ED raids properties in Kolkata for hawala links – Times of India

KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday raided 12 locations in West Bengal, including at least nine in Kolkata. The searches, sources said, were linked to recent investigations conducted by the Income Tax department.

While the agency did not issue any statement or commented officially, sources said the some of the searches are the follow-up actions of the recent raids conducted by the Income Tax department across the city.
At Hastings, the central investigating agency officials raided the premises of a leather industry unit in connection to alleged money laundering. Locals said that the office was owned by someone else a few years ago and was sold out to someone else recently.
Another residential property on Alipore Road, allegedly belonging to the same businessman, was also searched.
According to sources, the company has links to a well-known Kolkata-based business group. “A total of nine places in the city are currently being searched. Raids are underway at different places in the city as part of our investigation into the financial irregularities and illegal transactions by the two organisations,” an ED official said.
While nearly 60 officers joined the search, one team reached a posh locale off EM Bypass and carried out searches in the morning. Another team reached a guest house on Alipore Road.
The Income Tax department has recently conducted searches pertaining to tax evasion to the tune of Rs 300 crore by a number of businessmen .
On Tuesday morning, at around 6.30 am, ED teams started the raids and reached 12 premises in Tangra, Alipore, New Alipore, Anandapur, Hastings, Budge Budge and Maheshtala.
The central agency officials were escorted by central armed forces personnel. Two other teams simultaneously raised a guest house and residential premises. Sources indicated that cash and incriminating documents have been recovered from these places.