In a dramatic escalation of anti-corruption action, the Enforcement Directorate has gone into overdrive across West Bengal, triggering a wave of raids, summons, and asset seizures targeting influential politicians, senior officials, and corporate entities.
The intensified crackdown, spanning late March to early April 2026, has uncovered a complex web of alleged financial crimes—including recruitment scams, land grabbing, public distribution fraud, and illegal coal syndicates—alongside evidence of hawala transactions and layered money trails.
Top Officials and Political Heavyweights Face Heat
The agency’s focus has sharply shifted toward high-ranking individuals, with multiple summons issued to ministers, police officials, and bureaucrats.
Among those under scrutiny is senior police officer Santanu Sinha Biswas, linked to an alleged fraudulent medical admission under the NRI quota. Despite legal challenges, the ED has maintained its stance, issuing fresh summons.
State ministers Sujit Bose and Rathin Ghosh have also been called for questioning in connection with the municipal recruitment scam but are yet to appear.
In another development, Joint Commissioner of Police Gaurav Lal has been summoned over alleged links to the “Sona Pappu” criminal syndicate, signaling the widening scope of the probe.
Recruitment Scams and Political Links Under Investigation
The ED has reopened investigations into the high-profile recruitment irregularities involving former minister Partha Chatterjee. Fresh raids were conducted at his residence and associated offices, as investigators examine possible links to broader staff recruitment scams across government departments.
The agency suspects systemic manipulation in hiring processes, raising serious concerns about institutional integrity.
Real Estate, Land Grab and Corporate Nexus Exposed
The crackdown has also extended deep into the real estate sector, where investigators have uncovered forged documents and illegal land acquisitions.
Raids linked to businessman Amit Ganguly revealed an organised pattern of land grabbing through fake power-of-attorney documents. The probe has also drawn connections to influential figures in the region.
Meanwhile, premises associated with Merlin Group promoters Sushil and Saket Mohta were searched over allegations of fabricating documents to secure public land for large-scale projects.
PDS Scam and Coal Syndicate Reveal Massive Corruption Trail
One of the most alarming revelations has emerged from the Public Distribution System (PDS) scam. Searches across multiple locations exposed a network allegedly diverting government wheat meant for welfare schemes. Officials found evidence suggesting that FCI markings were removed to disguise public stock as private goods for export.
In parallel, the agency has filed charges in a massive illegal coal mining case involving an organised syndicate accused of collecting over ₹650 crore as “gunda tax” from transporters over five years.
Pan-India Hawala Network Under Lens
The ED’s probe has also uncovered links to a broader financial network involving hawala transactions. Searches across cities like Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru targeted entities associated with the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), where investigators reportedly seized crucial documents related to domestic and international money transfers through shell companies.
Crores Seized, Assets Frozen in Multiple Cases
The scale of financial action has been significant. Authorities have seized cash and attached properties worth hundreds of crores across cases.
Key recoveries include:
Rs 1.78 crore in cash linked to criminal and PDS cases
Rs 650 crore tied to illegal coal syndicate operations
Rs 85 crore in attachments related to medical scams
Rs 18.5 crore linked to alleged education fund siphoning
Additionally, assets worth Rs 48 lakh were attached in a customs smuggling case involving a senior official accused of facilitating illegal imports.
Political Reactions Add New Dimension
The sweeping action has triggered strong political reactions. Minister Sujit Bose has alleged that the investigations are part of a broader conspiracy involving central agencies, adding a political dimension to the unfolding developments.
A Crackdown That Signals Wider Implications
With multiple sectors—education, real estate, public distribution, and mining—now under scrutiny, the ongoing investigations point toward a systemic crackdown on financial irregularities in the state.
The pace and scale of action suggest that more revelations and high-profile developments could follow in the coming days.
