Hooghly, 04 November (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted a search operation at the residence of Narayan Das, a resident of Ilchoba Dakshinpara in Pandua, Hooghly district, on Wednesday morning. The operation, carried out by central investigating agency officials accompanied by central forces, triggered considerable excitement in the locality.

According to sources, Narayan Das had worked in the Income Tax Department and retired a few years ago. Local residents said that Das and his family generally maintained a low profile and rarely interacted with others. His son currently lives in Kalyani and is reportedly involved in the networking business, a villager said.

However, the reason behind the ED operation in Pandua remains unclear.

A few days ago, the ED conducted searches at several locations in Kolkata over allegations that a financial investment company had collected money from ordinary people by promising exceptionally high returns. The agency had also raided the residence of a businessman in Asansol.

On Wednesday, the ED also searched the residence of a businessman named Shyamal Byapari in the Kamalgazi area of Narendrapur in South 24 Parganas. The businessman is allegedly suspected of transferring money through hawala channels. The ED is investigating the matter in connection with a case originating in Guwahati. However, it remains unclear whether the Pandua operation is linked to these investigations.

Meanwhile, last month, the ED took a major step in its investigation into an alleged illegal coal smuggling network. According to information released by the agency's headquarters, properties worth Rs 136.44 crore were provisionally attached in connection with the investigation into the alleged illegal extraction and smuggling of large quantities of coal from mines leased by Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The investigating agency alleges that an illegal syndicate operated under the leadership of Anup Majhi alias Lala. The syndicate was allegedly involved in illegally extracting coal from mines and smuggling large quantities of it. The coal was subsequently sold to various factories across West Bengal in exchange for cash, according to the allegations. The investigation has also raised allegations of active assistance from certain local administrative officials.

According to the ED, several shell companies allegedly owned by Anup Majhi were created to conceal the source and ownership of the proceeds generated from illegal coal sales. These companies were reportedly operated in the names of his relatives, employees and close associate Gurupada Majhi.

The agency claims that cash generated through coal sales was deposited into the bank accounts of these companies through manipulated financial transactions, with the alleged intention of concealing the actual source and ownership of the funds.

Meanwhile, official details regarding Wednesday's ED search operation in Pan

dua are still awaited.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey