New Delhi, April 8 -- The government has already returned Rs.1,220 crore out of Rs.3,255 crore defrauded from 13,000 investors in the Jignesh Shah-run National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL) fraud case and is making efforts to quickly return the rest, people familiar with the matter said.

The defrauded money was recovered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has led to refunding the full amounts to 8,430 out of 13,000 investors, they said, requesting anonymity. In all, Rs.1,220 crore out of Rs.3,255 crore proceeds of crime identified and attached by the financial crimes probe agency have been refunded.

"The competent authority has directed all agencies, including the ED, to make conscious efforts for expeditious return of confiscated as...