A significant fire broke out at the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) Mumbai office in the Kaiser-I-Hind building, Ballard Estate, early on Sunday, April 27, 2025. The blaze reportedly lasted for about 12 hours, destroying furniture, computers, and certain documents.

Despite the physical damage, the ED has assured that investigations and trials will not be affected. This is because crucial case files are digitally stored and accessible through the agency’s centralized record-keeping system. Additionally, original records for cases where prosecution complaints have been filed are available with the concerned courts.

The fire is believed to have been caused by a short circuit on the fourth floor. No casualties were reported. The ED has since shifted operations to its alternate office at Janambhoomi Chambers and is expediting the establishment of a standalone office in Mumbai, following land allocation by the Maharashtra government in March 2025.

Regarding the Lok Nayak Bhawan in Delhi, which houses the ED headquarters, a fire occurred on the sixth floor in August 2018. However, no documents were damaged in that incident as the affected room did not contain any files.

Sources