No Full-time ED Since Aug 2014: IPS Karnal Singh continues to be acting ED for 6 more months

Enforcement Director (ED), a key post at the helm of investigating high-valued money laundering cases in India, will continue to be assigned to an officer on a part-time basis. The government in an order issued on Wednesday said, 1984 batch UT cadre IPS Karnal Singh will continue to be acting ED for six more months beginning Feb 19, 2016, or until the appointment of a regular incumbent. Thus in effect, Singh, who was…

in last August entrusted the additional charge of ED, apart from his duties as special director in the enforcement directorate, will be at the helm of the investigating agency for one full year. He was first given additional charge of ED on August 19, 2015 for three months, which was then extended by three more months in November, 2015. This time, he is entrusted the additional charge for six months.

Even before Singh was given additional charge of ED, it was Rajan S Katoch, 1979 batch Madhya Pradesh cadre IAS, now retired, was handling duel charge — ED and also secretary, ministry of heavy industries. 

Actually, there has been no full-time ED since August, 2014, when the then ED Katoch was made a secretary but asked to continue as ED as well. Thus, if Karnal Singh remains as acting ED for the next six month, there will be no full-time ED for two years.

Usually, an IAS officer is posted as ED, and Singh happens to be the first IPS to be at the helm of this agency. Earlier, there were instances of the post of ED being given to IRS officers. 

Singh had earlier headed the special cell of Delhi Police. His expertise includes counter-terrorism and cyber analysis.