The Claim

On March 12, 2026, TMC leader Shashi Panja accused the BJP of being a 'washing machine' that provides shelter from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to individuals who join the party. The claim was made in the context of Joydeb Khan's recent induction into the BJP, with Panja presenting an appointment letter dated March 9, 2026, as evidence of potential favoritism.

The Facts

While the TMC's claim suggests a selective application of anti-corruption measures, official data paints a different picture. The data indicates a substantial increase in the ED's activity under the NDA government compared to the UPA era. This includes a surge in the number of raids, arrests, and asset seizures, indicating a more aggressive stance against financial crimes.
Searches conducted by the ED increased 86 times between 2014-2024 compared to 2004-2014.
Arrests and asset attachments by the ED rose approximately 25 times in the last decade compared to the preceding period.
The ED booked approximately three times more cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) during the last ten years as compared to the preceding period.
Furthermore, the ED secured its first convictions under the PMLA starting in 2014, demonstrating a shift from mere investigations to successful prosecutions. Until recently, 63 people have been punished under the anti-money laundering law.
Around 84% of the attachment orders were confirmed from the Adjudicating Authority of the PMLA during 2014-24, compared to 68% confirmations during the last compared period.
These statistics suggest that the ED's actions have become more effective and result-oriented under the NDA government.

Government Record

The BJP came to power in 2014 on a strong anti-corruption platform, promising to tackle black money and financial irregularities. The government has implemented several measures to achieve this goal, including: * Forming a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate black money stashed abroad. * Implementing demonetization to curb the circulation of unaccounted wealth. * Taking action against shell companies used for money laundering. * Amending the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) to enhance transparency in foreign funding of NGOs. The government also claims to have achieved significant savings through the reduction in the siphoning of government funds, thanks to direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes and other measures aimed at plugging leakages in the system.
The Prime Minister has declared the BJP's firm resolve to combat corruption and nepotism, emphasizing that no one, regardless of their political affiliation, will be spared if found guilty of corruption.
Comparing the UPA and NDA eras further highlights the increased focus on anti-corruption measures under the current government:
During the UPA era, the ED registered 1,797 investigations under PMLA. In comparison, the NDA government initiated 5,155 money laundering probes.
102 chargesheets were filed during the UPA period, while 1,281 chargesheets were filed during the NDA decade.
During the UPA Era (2004-2014) the ED recovered Rs 4,156 crores while during the rule of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), ED recovered Rs 1,17, 568 crores.
Raids carried out by the Enforcement Directorate during 2014-2022 saw a nearly 27-fold increase to 3,010 as compared to 112 searches between 2004 and 2014.
These figures clearly demonstrate a significant escalation in anti-corruption efforts under the NDA government.

The Verdict

While the TMC's claim is a serious allegation, the available data suggests a more nuanced reality. The significant increase in ED activity, convictions, and asset seizures under the NDA government indicates a more proactive approach to tackling corruption, regardless of political affiliation. Therefore, the claim that the BJP acts as a 'washing machine' is an oversimplification and potentially misleading.
Sources: PIB, data.gov.in, Ministry of Finance reports, RBI data, Enforcement Directorate official website.