[1] Edhy began his political career in 2005 by joining the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI), becoming the chair of its Education and Training Division by 2007.

In the same year, he became a commissioner of PT Kiani Lestari Jakarta, a paper company owned by his patron, Prabowo Subianto.

[1][4] Edhy was arrested on 25 November 2020 by the Corruption Eradication Commission for allegedly receiving bribes in connection with the awarding of export licenses for lobster larvae.

[11] On 15 July 2021 Edhy was sentenced to five years in prison, he was also fined IDR 400 million and obligated to pay IDR9,8 billion and also 77.000 USD in compensation.

[12] It was later found that Gazalba Saleh, one of the judges that was involved in reducing Edhy's punishment, was arrested for accepting bribes in the case of Budiman Gandi Suparman.