Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Enforcement Directorate to Scrutinise IBC Cases With Large Haircuts
The Enforcement Directorate will look more closely at some insolvency cases.
Insolvency is a process for dealing with companies that cannot pay their debts.
The agency is concerned that creditors may receive unusually small recoveries, called haircuts.
It will check whether company promoters use the process to regain control of assets.
It will also look for inflated claims, asset stripping and manipulation of creditor decisions.
Officials may ask the National Company Law Tribunal to review certain cases.
They may also investigate suspected money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The agency plans to add staff and reduce the time needed for investigations.
The Enforcement Directorate will examine insolvency cases involving large creditor haircuts and possible promoter re-acquisition of assets.
The agency identified potential malpractices including Section 29A circumvention, inflated related-party claims, Committee of Creditors manipulation and asset stripping.
Officials were directed to review resolution professionals’ applications involving preferential, undervalued, fraudulent and extortionate transactions.
The Enforcement Directorate plans to intervene before the National Company Law Tribunal and pursue independent Prevention of Money Laundering Act investigations.
A cadre restructuring will increase sanctioned posts from 2,029 to 3,256 and target implementation from January 1, 2027.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate, resolution professionals, creditors, promoters and the National Company Law Tribunal are involved.
- What
- The Enforcement Directorate directed officials to scrutinise insolvency cases with large haircuts and possible promoter re-acquisition of assets.
- When
- The latest directions were issued amid scrutiny of insolvency resolutions; the agency’s restructuring rollout is targeted from January 1, 2027.
- Where
- The scrutiny will involve insolvency proceedings and intervention applications before the National Company Law Tribunal.
- Why
- The agency wants to detect suspected manipulation, asset stripping, inflated claims and other potential malpractices in the insolvency process.
- Agency focus
- Insolvency cases involving large haircuts and promoters potentially regaining control of assets
- Potential violations
- Section 29A circumvention, inflated related-party claims, Committee of Creditors manipulation and asset stripping
- Planned legal action
- Intervention applications before the National Company Law Tribunal and independent investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
- Legal issues reviewed
- The interaction between the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code moratorium and immunity provisions and Enforcement Directorate attachment powers under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act
- Staff expansion
- Sanctioned posts are expected to rise from 2,029 to 3,256
- New units
- The restructuring will create 50 Prevention of Money Laundering Act zones and five Foreign Exchange Management Act zones
- Investigation target
- The Enforcement Directorate aims to reduce the investigation lifecycle from four to five years to around one-and-a-half years