The Enforcement Directorate, accompanied by Central Armed Police Force personnel, is currently carrying out raids and search operations at approximately five locations in and around Kolkata. These actions are part of an investigation into a multi-crore illegal land-grabbing case. Simultaneously, the Income Tax Department is conducting similar operations at the residence and electoral camp office of Debasish Kumar, a Trinamool Congress legislator and Member of the Mayor-in-Council of Kolkata Municipal Corporation.
The Enforcement Directorate’s raids are primarily focused on the offices of a real estate company allegedly involved in the illegal land-grabbing case. Additionally, the ED officials are conducting search operations at the residence of a chartered accountant. Earlier this month, similar raids were carried out at various offices of the same real estate company, leading to the involvement of Debasish Kumar in the matter.
Sources indicate that the Enforcement Directorate is working to establish connections of politically influential individuals from West Bengal in a money-laundering case related to illegal land-grabbing. The investigation suggests that the execution of the money laundering scam linked to land-grabbing would not have been feasible without the involvement of powerful political figures.
The promoters of the real estate company are accused of fabricating documents and fraudulently acquiring various land parcels, including public land. Subsequently, they allegedly exploited the land commercially by launching large-scale real estate projects. Earlier in April, the Enforcement Directorate seized over Rs one crore in cash from a company executive’s house in Behala. Additionally, unlicensed weapons were found at a businessman’s residence in the Kasba area of Kolkata.
