ED Chief Gets Third Extension; Why Did Supreme Court Change Its July 11 Ruling?

New Delhi: Enforcement Directorate (ED) Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra has, after all, got a third extension.

Just over a fortnight after ruling that a third extension to Mishra’s tenure as ED chief was “illegal” and in violation of its judgment in 2021, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed him to continue in that role till September 15.

The Central government had sought an extension of his tenure – which was until July 31 — till October 15, stating that it would be in the nation’s interest as Mishra’s absence during the ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review would have an adverse effect.

While extending Mishra’s tenure today, the top court said that the Union government’s application was only considered because it was in the nation’s interest.

The Central government yesterday filed an urgent application in Supreme Court seeking an extension of the ED director’s tenure. The point was made that the FATF review is at a critical stage and submissions on effectiveness have been made on July 21, 2023 and an on-site visit is scheduled to be conducted in November 2023.

The government argued that it was essential to have someone like Mishra at the helm of affairs as he is well acquainted with the overall status of money-laundering investigations and proceedings across the country and also intricacies of procedures, operations and activities of the investigating agency.