Rahul Navin (IRS-IT:1993), presently the Acting Director of the Enforcement Directorate, is on the verge of stepping into the position of the agency’s head in a formalized capacity. This progression stems from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet’s resolution to empanel him as an Additional Secretary. The Central government’s issuance of this directive has generated discussions among numerous senior civil servants from diverse services, with an air of both anticipation and inevitability surrounding the decision.
Navin assumed the position of acting director on September 15, succeeding the retiring director, SK Mishra. His journey within the Enforcement Directorate began in 2020 when he joined as a Special Director on deputation.
It is noteworthy that the position of the Director in the Enforcement Directorate corresponds to the level of Additional Secretary and is often temporarily elevated to the rank and remuneration of the Secretary, Government of India. Navin’s predecessor, Sanjay Kumar Mishra (Retd. IRS-IT: 1984), similarly took charge as the Chief of the ED in the capacity of Additional Secretary before being empanelled and promoted to the rank and pay of Secretary.
The Enforcement Directorate is entrusted with the responsibility of investigating financial crimes under three key legislations – the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), and the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).