Kolkata: The ED searched 15 premises in and around Kolkata and seized Rs 40.50 lakh in cash, foreign currency worth $17,200 and froze 50 bank/demat accounts carrying over Rs 13 crore, in an extortion case linked to former Trinamool Congress legislator Sabyasachi Dutta, an official said on Monday.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, conducted search operations at the residence of Sabyasachi Dutta, office premises of entities associated with him, and office and residential premises of persons associated with him and his companies, said an ED statement.
The frozen 150 bank/demat accounts had a balance of at least Rs 13.9 crore (as on August 9) and were linked to Sabyasachi Dutta and his associates, said the ED.
One of the premises searched by the ED during its operations on July 31 was located in Haryana’s Gurugram near the national capital, the statement said.
During the search proceedings, the federal agency also seized incriminating documents (including ledgers, digital devices) related to utilisation of Proceeds of Crime (POC) generated from extortion and other illegal activities.
The ED said the documents indicated that the POC were used in various investments in movable and immovable properties done by Sabyasachi Dutta and his associates via routing of funds through a network of shell entities.
The fraudulent companies were identified as Precision Buildcom Pvt Ltd, Softline Media Network Pvt Ltd and Avam Realty Private Limited, the agency said.
The ED initiated an investigation under PMLA, 2002, in the case of Sabyasachi Dutta and others by recording an Enforcement Case Information Report dated June 23 based on an FIR registered by Bidhannagar Police Station (North), the statement said.
The FIR alleged that Sabyasachi Dutta, Ex-Mayor, Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, and his associates ran an extortion racket by misusing his political influence, the statement said.
Through intimidation, assault, and criminal conspiracy, the group extorted funds from local businessmen, converting a portion of these proceeds into assets like gold, FDs, Mutual Funds and immovable properties, the ED said.
It was learnt that the simultaneous raids and search operations since the morning of July 31 were in relation to the recovery of 3.5 kilograms of gold from the residence and bank locker registered in the name of Sabyasachi Dutta. At the same time, the police recovered gold purchase receipts with a value of Rs 76 crore.
(IANS)
