ED Seizes ₹1.01 Crore Cash, Luxury Cars in Bengal Human Trafficking Probe
Raids in Kolkata, Siliguri expose organised prostitution racket; ‘plastic notes’ used in dance bars, say officials
- ED raids eight locations in Bidhannagar, Kolkata, and Siliguri under PMLA provisions
- ₹1.01 crore in cash, Land Rover Defender, and Jaguar car seized
- Racket involved luring women under false promises, coercing them into prostitution
- Accused used companies and fake transactions to launder proceeds of crime
GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 8th Nov: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday seized over ₹1.01 crore in cash and two luxury cars during simultaneous raids across Kolkata, Bidhannagar, and Siliguri, as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged organised human trafficking and prostitution racket operating through certain bars and restaurants in West Bengal.
According to officials, the federal agency conducted searches at eight locations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The operation led to the recovery of cash, a Land Rover Defender, a Jaguar car, multiple digital devices, and property documents. Several bank accounts used for handling illicit proceeds were also identified.
Investigators revealed that the accused were involved in luring vulnerable women with promises of employment before forcing them into prostitution. The income generated through these illegal activities was allegedly laundered through a network of shell companies controlled by the accused.
During the searches, ED teams reportedly discovered “plastic notes” being used inside dance bars as a parallel currency system for payments linked to trafficking and other unlawful activities.
The case stems from multiple FIRs and chargesheets filed by the West Bengal Police against key accused Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra, and their associates. They face charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the Arms Act, and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986, which are predicate offences under the PMLA, 2002.
An ED official said the probe has uncovered a complex financial network through which illegal earnings were layered and integrated into legitimate channels. The agency is now tracing the money trail and possible international linkages connected to the racket.
Further investigation is underway.
