Kolkata, July 7 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Enforcement Directorate (ED), whose officials conducted day-long raid and search operations at multiple locations in Kolkata since Tuesday in connection with its probe into transactions linked to three bank accounts of the Trinamool Congress on which "debit restrictions" were recently imposed following directions from the West Bengal Police, is specially examining doubtful debit transactions worth Rs 150 crore from these three bank accounts.
In the simultaneous raid and search operations conducted at five places throughout the day, the ED officials seized several incriminating documents, including paper documents as well as digital and electronic documents, which hint at the doubtful nature of these transactions worth Rs 150 crore made from these three bank accounts, sources aware of the development said.
At the same time, the sources said the accounts of a couple of travel agencies and an aviation company are also under the scanner of the investigating officials of the central agency, considering that the said doubtful transactions worth Rs 150 crore were made with these entities.
The five places where the ED officials conducted day-long raids and search operations included the said aviation company, which reportedly provided chartered flight services to Trinamool Congress leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the party's national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, for election campaigns and other official travels.
Besides the office of the aviation company in Central Kolkata, the ED officials also conducted raids and searches at the residence of the entity's owner in Salt Lake, in the northern outskirts of Kolkata.
The debit restrictions were imposed last month on the party's three bank accounts, which together hold around Rs 440 crore, following two separate developments after the Trinamool Congress's rout in the assembly elections held in April-May this year.
The first was a letter from the party's former treasurer and former West Bengal Sports and Power Minister Aroop Biswas to the bank, seeking a freeze on the accounts over fears that the funds could be misused.
Subsequently, MLAs belonging to the "rebel but majority" faction of the Trinamool Congress legislature party, led by expelled MLA Ritabrata Banerjee, approached the West Bengal Police with a similar request. They also alleged that the accounts could contain proceeds of corruption and extortion.
Taking note of the allegations and complaints, the police directed the bank to impose debit restrictions on the accounts. The "original but minority" faction of the party, led by Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, challenged the move before the Calcutta High Court. However, the court declined to grant interim relief and did not lift the restrictions.
Thereafter, the ED initiated its own investigation into the matter, taking cognisance of allegations that proceeds of corruption and extortion may have been routed through the accounts, thereby bringing the matter within the ambit of money laundering laws.
Source: IANS
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