ED raids 12 Kolkata locations linked to ex-TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta
Synopsis
The ED's simultaneous raids on 12 Kolkata locations tied to arrested ex-TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta — following a ₹76 crore gold paper trail and ₹3.70 crore in frozen accounts — signal a deepening federal crackdown on alleged corruption and extortion in West Bengal, even as a rival politician who once defeated Dutta sits in the same enforcement net.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate raided 12 locations in Kolkata on 31 July linked to arrested ex-TMC MLA Sabyasachi Dutta .
Raids follow recovery of 3.5 kg of gold and purchase receipts worth ₹76 crore from Dutta's residence and bank locker.
State police had previously frozen five bank accounts of Dutta and his wife, seizing ₹3.70 crore in total.
Gold was also recovered from the residence of TMC leader Tina Bhowmik , described as a close confidant of Dutta.
Dutta was first arrested on 9 June on extortion charges following a complaint by a Salt Lake -based businessman.
Ex-minister Sujit Bose , who defeated Dutta in 2021, is separately in ED custody over the cash-for-municipalities' job case .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, 31 July launched simultaneous raids at 12 locations across Kolkata linked to Sabyasachi Dutta, the arrested former All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator and ex-Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) in North 24 Parganas district. The searches are part of a widening money-laundering probe centred on extortion and corruption charges against the two-time former MLA.
What Triggered the Raids
The search operations are directly linked to the recent recovery of 3.5 kilograms of gold from a residence and bank locker registered in Dutta's name, along with gold purchase receipts valued at ₹76 crore. Investigators are attempting to establish whether the confiscated gold was acquired through proceeds of extortion and corruption — the two primary charges against Dutta.
Gold consignments were additionally recovered from the residence of Tina Bhowmik, a TMC leader described as a close confidant of Dutta during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC administration in West Bengal.
Financial Trail: Frozen Accounts and Seized Assets
State police had earlier frozen five bank accounts belonging to Dutta and his wife Indrani Dutta. According to police, a combined ₹3.70 crore was seized across these accounts, fixed deposits, and cash holdings. Dutta has also been accused of possessing assets disproportionate to his known income.
Dutta was arrested on 9 June following a marathon overnight interrogation by state police, triggered by a written complaint from a Salt Lake-based businessman who alleged extortion. Multiple prior complaints of corruption, extortion, and hooliganism in his locality had also surfaced during the investigation.
Dutta's Political Journey
Dutta served as a two-time TMC legislator from Rajarhat-Newtown Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas between 2011 and 2021. Ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, he defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and contested from Bidhannagar Assembly constituency, where he was defeated by three-time former TMC legislator and ex-West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose.
After TMC's return to power for a third consecutive term in 2021, Dutta rejoined the ruling party. In the most recently concluded Assembly polls — which ended TMC's 15-year run in the state — he contested from Barasat Assembly constituency and was again defeated.
A Widening Probe: Bose Also in Custody
Notably, Sujit Bose — the same legislator who defeated Dutta in 2021 — is himself in judicial custody. ED officers arrested Bose last month in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities' job case in West Bengal. The parallel arrests of two political figures from the same district underline the scale of the ongoing enforcement action in the state.
With the ED now conducting fresh raids and building a financial paper trail, the investigation into Dutta's alleged assets is expected to intensify in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Sujit Bose, now sit in enforcement custody simultaneously, suggesting the probe has moved beyond individual targeting into a systemic sweep of a patronage network. The real question mainstream coverage is not asking: how many more figures in the same ecosystem are under active scrutiny?
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the ED raiding locations linked to Sabyasachi Dutta?
The ED is conducting raids at 12 Kolkata locations to investigate the source of 3.5 kg of gold and purchase receipts worth ₹76 crore recovered from premises linked to Dutta. Investigators are probing whether the assets were acquired through extortion and corruption, the two main charges against him.
When was Sabyasachi Dutta arrested and why?
Dutta was arrested on 9 June by West Bengal state police following an overnight interrogation. The arrest was triggered by a written complaint from a Salt Lake-based businessman alleging extortion, with multiple prior complaints of corruption and hooliganism also on record.
Who is Tina Bhowmik and what is her connection to this case?
Tina Bhowmik is a TMC leader described as a close confidant of Dutta during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government. Gold consignments were recovered from her residence as part of the same investigation.
What is Sabyasachi Dutta's political background?
Dutta was a two-time TMC MLA from Rajarhat-Newtown constituency from 2011 to 2021 and served as ex-Mayor of Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation. He defected to the BJP before the 2021 polls, lost, then rejoined TMC, and was again defeated in the most recent West Bengal Assembly elections.
Who is Sujit Bose and why is he also in custody?
Sujit Bose is a three-time former TMC legislator and ex-West Bengal Fire Services Minister who defeated Dutta in the 2021 Bidhannagar constituency election. He was arrested by the ED last month in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities' job case in West Bengal and is currently in judicial custody.
