The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at properties linked to Trinamool Congress(TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque on Monday in connection with a money laundering case.
The raids began around 6 am when ED officers, accompanied by state and central security forces, reached Haque’s office, from where he runs an Urdu newspaper ‘Akhbar-E-Mashriq’.
The raids are linked to alleged unaccounted transactions made through accounts of his media organisation. Apart from Kolkata, ED officials are also conducting raids in several other establishments associated with Haque in Delhi and Ranchi. Around seven locations in these three cities are under the ED scanner.
The 56-year-old MP was unreachable when ED officers arrived at his office in Kolkata. Neither Haque nor the TMC has responded to the development so far. Meanwhile, ED officers are questioning Haque’s family members as efforts continue to trace the MP.
The ED took cognisance of a money laundering case filed against the MP’s organisation at Biddhanagar North police station in August. Following this, the central agency filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act(PMLA) and initiated an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
The ED is looking for material evidence, including digital devices, to gather more information on where the proceeds of the crime went and on other individuals and organisations involved.
Haque has been a TMC RS MP since 2012.
