3 weeks ago
ED raids ex-TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta's 15 premises in extortion case
A special police agency called the ED searched many homes and offices linked to a former politician named Sabyasachi Dutta.
They were looking into claims that he used his power to force local business people to give him money.
The officers found cash, foreign money, and many accounts with lots of money in them, and they stopped people from using those accounts for now.
They also found papers and records connected to the money they say was taken.
The agency says some of the money was used to buy gold and property through fake companies.
One of the searched places was in a city called Gurugram.
This all started because a police station filed a complaint about an extortion racket.
The ED is a group that investigates money crimes in India.
They will keep studying the records to understand what happened.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched 15 premises in and around Kolkata linked to former Trinamool Congress MLA Sabyasachi Dutta in an extortion case.
The agency seized Rs 40.50 lakh in cash and foreign currency worth $17,200, and froze 50 bank/demat accounts carrying over Rs 13 crore.
The ED said the frozen accounts had a balance of at least Rs 13.9 crore as on August 9 and were linked to Dutta and his associates.
The investigation, initiated under the PMLA, 2002, is based on an FIR by Bidhannagar Police Station alleging Dutta ran an extortion racket by misusing his political influence.
Gold purchase receipts worth Rs 76 crore were recovered, and the probe relates to the recovery of 3.5 kilograms of gold from Dutta's residence and bank locker.
One of the premises searched during the July 31 operations was in Haryana's Gurugram, and the ED flagged three fraudulent companies linked to routing funds through shell entities.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED); former Trinamool Congress MLA and ex-Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation Sabyasachi Dutta and his associates.
- What
- The ED searched 15 premises, seized cash and foreign currency, froze bank/demat accounts carrying over Rs 13 crore, and recovered incriminating documents in an extortion-linked money laundering investigation.
- Where
- Premises in and around Kolkata, including one located in Haryana's Gurugram near the national capital.
- When
- Search operations were conducted on July 31; the ED statement was released on a Monday, with account balances frozen as of August 9.
- Why
- Because an FIR alleged that Dutta and his associates ran an extortion racket by misusing his political influence, intimidating local businessmen and converting proceeds into assets.
Key facts
- Premises searched
- 15 premises in and around Kolkata, plus one in Gurugram, Haryana
- Cash seized
- Rs 40.50 lakh
- Foreign currency seized
- $17,200
- Bank/demat accounts frozen
- 50 accounts carrying over Rs 13 crore (at least Rs 13.9 crore as on August 9)
- Gold recovered
- 3.5 kilograms from residence and bank locker; purchase receipts worth Rs 76 crore
- Fraudulent companies identified
- Precision Buildcom Pvt Ltd, Softline Media Network Pvt Ltd, Avam Realty Private Limited
- Legal basis
- Investigation under PMLA, 2002, based on an ECIR dated June 23 and an FIR from Bidhannagar Police Station
- Agency
- Enforcement Directorate, Kolkata Zonal Office
Sources
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