In a major operation against human trafficking and money laundering, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized over Rs 1.01 crore in cash and two luxury cars — a Land Rover Defender and a Jaguar — during raids across West Bengal on Friday.
According to officials, the raids were carried out at eight locations in Bidhannagar (North 24 Parganas district), Kolkata, and Siliguri under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The searches targeted an alleged organised human trafficking and prostitution racket reportedly operating through certain bars and restaurants in the state.
Along with the cash and vehicles, the agency seized digital devices, property documents, and identified several bank accounts linked to the accused that were used for laundering illicit proceeds.
ED officials also uncovered the use of plastic notes within dance bar premises — a form of in-house currency allegedly used for transactions related to prostitution and trafficking.
The money laundering probe originates from multiple FIRs and chargesheets filed by the West Bengal Police against key accused Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra, and their associates.
Investigations revealed that the accused lured vulnerable women with false promises of jobs and later coerced them into prostitution. The cash generated through these illegal activities was allegedly routed through a network of shell companies controlled by the accused.
The case includes offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Arms Act, and Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1986, all of which are covered under the PMLA, 2002.
An ED official confirmed that the agency is now tracing the money trail and possible international linkages of the racket to uncover the full scale of the operation.
