NEW DELHI, May 1 -- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) returned Rs.32,678 crore of attached assets to fraud victims and other claimants in fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26), more than double the amount restituted a year earlier, underscoring an acceleration in its anti-money laundering drive.

The restitution, covering banks, investors, and homebuyers, compares with Rs.15,263 crore returned in FY25, the agency said in its annual report released on Friday. Restitution refers to the return of assets attached in money laundering cases to legitimate owners based on court orders.

The ramp-up comes alongside a broader increase in enforcement activity. The ED recorded 1,080 cases in the year ended March 2026, up from 775 in the previous year, and iss...