ED raids 15 Kolkata premises of ex-TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta, seizes ₹13 crore
Synopsis
The ED froze 150 accounts holding ₹13.9 crore and recovered 3.5 kg of gold in raids on 15 premises tied to ex-TMC MLA and former Bidhannagar Mayor Sabyasachi Dutta — with gold purchase receipts worth ₹76 crore also seized. The scale of the asset trail, routed through three shell companies, signals a case that goes well beyond a routine extortion inquiry.
Key Takeaways
ED searched 15 premises in and around Kolkata on 10 August linked to ex-TMC legislator Sabyasachi Dutta .
Agencies seized ₹40.50 lakh in cash and foreign currency worth $17,200 .
150 bank and demat accounts were frozen, holding over ₹13.9 crore as of 9 August .
3.5 kg of gold recovered from Dutta's residence and bank locker; gold purchase receipts worth ₹76 crore also seized.
Three shell firms — Precision Buildcom Pvt Ltd , Softline Media Network Pvt Ltd , and Avam Realty Private Limited — identified as conduits for proceeds of crime.
ED case registered under PMLA, 2002 on 23 June , based on an FIR by Bidhannagar Police Station (North) .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on 10 August searched 15 premises in and around Kolkata linked to former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Sabyasachi Dutta, seizing ₹40.50 lakh in cash and foreign currency worth $17,200, and freezing 150 bank and demat accounts holding over ₹13.9 crore, in a money laundering case rooted in an alleged extortion racket. The operation is among the largest single-day asset actions against a former Bengal legislator in recent months.
Scope of the Raids
The ED Kolkata Zonal Office conducted simultaneous searches at Dutta's residence, offices of entities associated with him, and premises linked to his associates and companies. One of the locations searched was in Gurugram, Haryana, near the national capital, according to an official ED statement. The agency also seized incriminating documents including ledgers and digital devices related to the alleged utilisation of proceeds of crime.
Shell Companies and Asset Trail
Investigators found that the proceeds of crime were routed through a network of shell entities into movable and immovable properties. Three companies were identified as allegedly fraudulent: Precision Buildcom Pvt Ltd, Softline Media Network Pvt Ltd, and Avam Realty Private Limited. According to the ED, the funds were converted into assets including gold, fixed deposits, mutual funds, and real estate.
Gold Recovery and Earlier Police Action
The raids on 31 July — which preceded Monday's disclosure — led to the recovery of 3.5 kilograms of gold from Dutta's residence and a bank locker registered in his name. Police also reportedly recovered gold purchase receipts valued at ₹76 crore. The scale of the gold trail has drawn particular scrutiny given Dutta's former role as Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation.
Legal Background
The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report on 23 June under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on an FIR filed by Bidhannagar Police Station (North). The FIR alleged that Dutta and his associates ran an extortion racket by misusing his political influence — using intimidation, assault, and criminal conspiracy to extract funds from local businessmen.
What Comes Next
With accounts frozen and documents seized, the ED is expected to move towards formal asset attachment proceedings under PMLA. The case adds to a growing list of federal investigations into alleged financial irregularities involving former and current functionaries in West Bengal, and is likely to intensify political scrutiny of the ruling TMC ahead of the state's next electoral cycle.
Point of View
Where the boundary between political machinery and organised extortion has repeatedly come under judicial and investigative scrutiny. What distinguishes this case is the scale: ₹76 crore in gold purchase receipts and a three-company shell network suggest a level of financial sophistication that goes beyond opportunistic corruption. The ED's move to freeze 150 accounts before any formal charge sheet signals aggressive asset preservation — a tactic that also carries political timing implications, given Bengal's charged electoral environment. Whether the investigation leads to prosecution or stalls at attachment, as several similar cases have, will be the real test of institutional follow-through.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sabyasachi Dutta and why is he under ED investigation?
Sabyasachi Dutta is a former legislator of the All India Trinamool Congress and ex-Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation in West Bengal. The ED is investigating him under PMLA, 2002, over allegations that he and his associates ran an extortion racket — using political influence, intimidation, and criminal conspiracy to extract funds from local businessmen.
What did the ED seize during the Kolkata raids?
The ED seized ₹40.50 lakh in cash, foreign currency worth $17,200, and froze 150 bank and demat accounts holding over ₹13.9 crore. Investigators also recovered 3.5 kg of gold and gold purchase receipts valued at ₹76 crore, along with ledgers and digital devices.
Which shell companies were linked to Sabyasachi Dutta?
The ED identified three allegedly fraudulent companies as conduits for proceeds of crime: Precision Buildcom Pvt Ltd, Softline Media Network Pvt Ltd, and Avam Realty Private Limited. Funds were reportedly routed through these entities into real estate, gold, fixed deposits, and mutual funds.
When did the ED register the case against Sabyasachi Dutta?
The ED recorded an Enforcement Case Information Report on 23 June under PMLA, 2002, based on an FIR filed by Bidhannagar Police Station (North) in West Bengal.
What happens next in the Sabyasachi Dutta ED case?
With accounts frozen and documents seized, the ED is expected to initiate formal asset attachment proceedings under PMLA. A charge sheet or supplementary complaint before the special PMLA court is likely to follow as the investigation progresses.
