ED files PMLA complaint in alleged visa fraud racket

📌 Summary:

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint against Red Leaf Immigration Private Limited and others in an alleged organised immigration and visa fraud
• Named accused include Amandeep Singh, Poonam Rani, Ankur Kumar Kehar, Nitin Vij, Kamaljot Kansal, Overseas Partner and Rudra Consultancy Services
• They have been booked under various provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED's core statute for tracing proceeds of crime
• Significance: shows use of the money-laundering law against transnational immigration/visa fraud, where illicit fees are laundered through shell entities and consultancies

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS3 — money laundering, economic offences, organised crime; role of the ED and the PMLA framework

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The ED (Enforcement Directorate) is a financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance
• It enforces the PMLA, 2002 and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), 1999
• A "prosecution complaint" is the ED's equivalent of a chargesheet, filed before a special PMLA court

🔑 Key Term: Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 — the law empowering the ED to attach proceeds of crime and prosecute money laundering