Ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a massive crackdown. Starting Monday morning, raids are being conducted across at least 10 locations in the state, including Siliguri, Howrah, Bidhannagar, and Durgapur, as part of an investigation into an illegal call center network.

Operating under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED is targeting individuals allegedly involved in defrauding foreign nationals, particularly Australians. The investigation covers premises linked to names such as Surashree Kar, Samrat Ghosh, and Subhajit Chakraborty. Notably, the ED is also searching the residence and showroom of Siliguri-based gold trader Swapan Ghosh. Computers, hard drives, mobile devices, and sensitive financial documents have been seized.

Investigators reveal that the scam involved luring foreigners under the guise of technical support, gaining remote access to their computers, and siphoning off funds. The illicit proceeds were allegedly routed out of the country through money laundering, with suspicions that some funds may have been used for political financing. While the BJP has lauded the move as a crackdown on corruption, the TMC has dismissed it as the weaponization of central agencies for political motives.