Shruti Suman
New Delhi
In a groundbreaking verdict on Tuesday, the Supreme Court deemed the third extension granted to Sanjay Kumar Mishra, the head of the Enforcement Directorate, as illegal and ruled that his tenure cannot extend beyond July 31. This decision has cast a spotlight on the life and accomplishments of a man who played a pivotal role in what the Narendra Modi government hailed as its crusade against corruption.
Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Sanjay Kumar Mishra, a 1984-batch officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), initially assumed the role of the Enforcement Directorate director for a specified period of two years in 2018. However, he received three subsequent extensions from the government. Last year, the government even introduced an ordinance allowing directors of investigative agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI to serve up to three years beyond the mandated two-year term.
During his five-year tenure thus far, Mr. Mishra intensified scrutiny on numerous former ministers and influential leaders, resulting in the registration of 4,000 cases and the execution of 3,000 searches by the probe agency.
Under Mr. Sanjay Mishra’s leadership, the ED delved into investigations involving notable politicians such as Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, former finance minister P. Chidambaram, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, another minister Nawab Malik, National Conference leaders Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Tamil Nadu’s influential minister Senthil Balaji, and former Trinamool Congress minister Partha Chatterjee, among others prominent personality.
Although the opposition strongly opposed the ED’s actions, labeling them as harassment and abuse of power, the courts neither invalidated the measures taken under Mr. Mishra nor found any fault with them.
The agency’s operations not only bolstered support for the government but also fulfilled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pledge of “Na Khaoonga, na khane doonga” (I won’t tolerate corruption). However, the organization also became a focal point for the opposition’s accusations of the government’s misuse of power.
Under Mr. Mishra’s watch, the Enforcement Directorate recruited experts, trained professionals, and even took on a multitude of high-profile cases, a realm traditionally dominated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Colleagues who have worked alongside him describe Mr. Mishra as an individual who never forgets any detail about the cases he handles. He diligently focuses on even the smallest aspects and expects his team to be alert at all times. Known for his profound interest in understanding the intricate connections between politics and business, he possesses expertise in taxation, economics, and foreign currency matters.
“He pursues the corrupt with an impeccably professional approach, addressing every procedural loophole, as any seasoned bureaucrat would. He doesn’t ‘network’ with politicians or leave any room for ‘understandings,’ which is precisely why he has remained in this position for so many years. With a sharp memory, he ensures swift progress,” shared an official on the condition of anonymity.
Hailing from a middle-class family in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Mishra’s early interests revolved around scientific research, leading him to earn a degree in biochemistry from Lucknow University. Prior to assuming the role of Enforcement Directorate chief, he served as the Chief Commissioner of Income Tax and conducted investigations into several high-profile cases within the Income Tax department. His investigation into Young India, an organization associated with the Gandhi family that owns the National Herald newspaper, thrust him into the limelight and subsequently paved the way for his appointment as the head of the ED.
Significantly, it was during Mr. Mishra’s tenure that the ED launched investigations against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Robert Vadra, the husband of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Rahul Gandhi spent nearly 42 hours over five days at the ED office, answering questions pertaining to the National Herald case, while Sonia Gandhi spent 13 hours over three days in a similar fashion.
Mr. Mishra’s tenure witnessed stringent enforcement of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act introduced by the Modi Government in 2018, and the civil provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act.
