World · India Bureau
ED raids 15 locations linked to former West Bengal minister in Kolkata
India's Enforcement Directorate has launched simultaneous raids at 15 premises in Kolkata, including properties associated with Indraneel Sen, a former minister in the Trinamool Congress government. The action is part of an investigation into alleged proceeds of crime linked to fundraising activities.
LSN India ·
The ED conducted the coordinated raids across multiple locations in Kolkata on Tuesday, targeting addresses connected to Sen and related entities. The investigation centers on funds allegedly collected in the name of Mass Arts Society, with authorities examining whether the money represents proceeds of illicit activities.
Sen, who previously held ministerial rank in the West Bengal government led by the Trinamool Congress, has not made an immediate public statement regarding the action. The ED's move represents an escalation in scrutiny of the senior political figure as part of the agency's ongoing financial investigations.
The raids underscore mounting pressure on political figures in Bengal as central investigative agencies intensify their examination of financial transactions and fundraising mechanisms. The Mass Arts Society, ostensibly a cultural organization, became the focus of the probe following preliminary investigations into its financial operations and the sources of its collections.
Enforcement Directorate officials are expected to examine financial records, digital devices, and other materials seized during the searches to establish the nature and extent of alleged irregularities. The investigation may provide clarity on whether funds were misappropriated or channeled through unauthorized mechanisms.