The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched search operations at several locations across Kolkata early Wednesday morning in connection with an alleged chit fund fraud case.
An ED team reached the residence of a businessman in the Narkeldanga area early in the morning. Apart from Narkeldanga, searches were also conducted at five other locations, including Netaji Nagar and Rabindra Sarobar.
ED begins searches across Kolkata early Wednesday
According to sources, the ED is conducting searches at at least six locations across the city. The searches are reportedly linked to a chit fund fraud case.
Sources said money was allegedly collected through a chit fund named APM and was subsequently diverted and used for other purposes through another company.
Businessman’s Narkeldanga residence searched by ED
The ED is conducting searches over allegations that money deposited by investors in the chit fund was misappropriated. According to ED sources, the searches are being conducted at the residences of people allegedly linked to the chit fund and who acted as its “linkmen”.
The searches come a day after the ED arrested businessman Amit Gangopadhyay in connection with a separate case involving alleged land grabbing and illegal construction.
Searches follow separate businessman arrest Tuesday
Gangopadhyay’s company has been accused of allegedly grabbing land at various locations in South Kolkata and developing residential projects on those properties. He was summoned to the CGO Complex on Tuesday for questioning in connection with the investigation.
According to sources, he was arrested for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation.
Amit questioned before arrest by ED officials
Police had registered around 20 FIRs against Gangopadhyay in 2023 in several police stations across the state, including in South 24 Parganas, over allegations of land grabbing, cheating and using forged documents. The ED subsequently registered a separate case based on those FIRs and began its investigation.
Gangopadhyay is also known to be close to former Trinamool Congress MLA Debashis Kumar.
