Less than 24 hours after the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) busted a major money laundering racket in the heart of Kolkata and Siliguri on Thursday, sources say Enforcement Directorate is likely to take over the investigation into the case.

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According to sources, Enforcement Directorate officials have sought information on this case. Starting Thursday morning, a joint team comprising CBDT officials, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and the Special Task Force of Kolkata Police carried out raids over ten places in Kolkata.

So far, the total amount of cash seized stands at Rs. 80 crore – Rs.70 crore from Kolkata and Rs. 10 crore from Siliguri. Currency notes stashed in almirahs, 16 gunny bags and 27 travel bags were seized from three locations in South Kolkata – 127 B, Sarat Bose Road, 75/3 S N Roy Road and 55, Hazra Road. This apart, raids were made at Teesta Distributor and Ananda Mangal Square in Siliguri. Source told PTI that the entire racket could be worth about Rs. 1,000 crore.

Meanwhile, the CBDT detained X Alexander, friend of S Nagarjan and Santiago Martin, who used to allegedly run the fake lottery business under the company’s name of General System and Future Plan Enterprise. On the other hand, Nagarjan, Martin and one more involved in the fake lottery case are absconding and the investigating agency has begun a lookout for them with the help of the local police.

Sources say, the trio allegedly run a fake lottery business in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. The money collected was channelised to Dubai through the hawala route. On Thursday, the money stacked across the corners of the offices of this company was to be transferred to a hawala account.