India, Feb. 6 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge-sheet against 54 accused, including 19 broking firms and their directors, as part of its ongoing money-laundering investigation into the alleged fraud at National Spot Exchange Limited (NSEL). The broking entities stand accused of colluding with officials of NSEL to trap investors into trading on the NSEL platform for promised hefty returns.

According to the ED charge-sheet, the brokerage earned through these illegal means was further utilised in business operations. The charge-sheet was submitted on January 28, and cognisance was taken of it by the special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) court on Monday.

The ED charge-sheet focuses upon the role of the 19 br...