Kolkata: In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out a high-profile raid at a businessman’s residence in the Taratala area of Kolkata. They recovered over ₹1.2 crore in cash and gold jewellery. This operation is part of the agency’s ongoing probe into the municipality recruitment corruption case that has rocked West Bengal.
According to ED sources, the raid began early in the morning after officials received credible intelligence linking the businessman to the alleged scam. The counting of seized cash is still underway. Apart from Taratala, simultaneous searches were also conducted in Baguihati in North Kolkata.
Investigators are now working to trace the source of the massive stash of cash. They aim to determine its possible connection with the recruitment scam. The ED believes the businessman may have been part of a broader financial network tied to irregularities in municipal appointments.
A day earlier, ED officials also raided a residence at 75 Hemchandra Naskar Road in Beliaghata. This belonged to businessman brothers Biswajit and Ranajit Chowdhury known for their textile and construction ventures. Nearly six ED officers carried out the operation, seizing crucial documents for examination.
The probe has widened after the ED recently questioned officials linked to the South Dum Dum Municipality. They also raided the office of State Fire Minister Sujit Bose and his son’s restaurant regarding the same case.
Sources indicate that the agency has identified several shell companies suspected of laundering funds from the recruitment scam. More raids are expected in the coming days as the ED tightens its investigation into one of the state’s largest ongoing corruption cases.
–IANS
