ED Carries Out Raids at Multiple Locations Across Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal

On Tuesday, 3 January, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out coordinated search operations at several locations across Paschim Bardhaman district in West Bengal. Assisted by central paramilitary personnel, ED teams conducted raids in areas including Pandaveswar, Jamuria, Andal, Durgapur, and Panagarh.

According to reports, the searches targeted the residences of several prominent businessmen and a police official. A raid was conducted at the City Centre residence of Manoranjan Mondal in Durgapur. Mondal is currently serving as the Officer-in-Charge of Budbud Police Station and had previously been suspended during his tenure as the Officer-in-Charge of Baraboni Police Station.

The ED also conducted searches at the home of sand trader Prabir Dutta in Sepco Township. A 16-member ED team is interrogating hardware businessman Rajesh Bansal in Jamuria. As part of the investigation, the residence of coal trader Maijul Shah in Pandaveswar’s Nabagram area has also been sealed.

The reason behind the raids is yet to be clarified, and the Enforcement Directorate has not issued an official statement. However, sources indicate that the operations are connected to suspected money laundering and financial irregularities linked to the regional coal and sand trade.