ED raids 8 locations in Bengal in ₹165 crore welfare scam probe
Synopsis
The ED has raided eight locations across Kolkata and Bangaon in a ₹165 crore fraud case where around 20,000 people were allegedly duped under the guise of government welfare benefits. The alleged mastermind, TMC local leader Avijit Biswas, was not found at his residence — with family and neighbours confirming he rarely returns home.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided 8 locations in West Bengal on 21 July in a financial corruption and forgery case.
Approximately ₹165 crore was allegedly collected from around 20,000 individuals under the false pretext of government welfare scheme benefits.
Raids were conducted at 4 locations in Kolkata and 4 in Bangaon , North 24 Parganas district.
TMC local leader Avijit Biswas is believed to be the alleged mastermind; he was not present during the raids.
West Bengal's new BJP government under CM Suvendu Adhikari has backed strong anti-corruption legislation, including the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026 .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), accompanied by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, on 21 July conducted simultaneous raids and search operations at eight locations across West Bengal as part of an ongoing investigation into a case of financial corruption and forgery involving alleged misuse of government welfare schemes. The operation targeted sites in Kolkata and Bangaon sub-division in North 24 Parganas district.
The Alleged Scam
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the central charge is that large sums of money were collected from ordinary citizens on the false pretext of securing benefits under various Central and state government-sponsored welfare schemes. Approximately ₹165 crore was allegedly collected from around 20,000 individuals in this manner, according to sources. A formal complaint was subsequently filed with the ED, prompting the agency — the financial investigation arm of the Union Finance Ministry — to initiate action. ED officials declined to share further details about the ongoing probe.
Raids Across Kolkata and Bangaon
Of the eight locations searched, four are in Kolkata and the remaining four are in Bangaon. At Bangaon, investigators targeted the residence of All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) local leader Avijit Biswas, who is believed to be the alleged mastermind behind the corruption-cum-forgery operation. However, Biswas was not present when ED teams arrived at his Bangaon home. His family members stated that he rarely stays at the residence and is mostly away — a claim corroborated by neighbours, according to reports.
West Bengal's New Anti-Corruption Framework
The raids come under the watch of the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, which has reportedly taken a firm stance on corruption since assuming office. The state recently enacted the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026, which contains strong provisions against corruption. Notably, the Act empowers the state government to confiscate property of individuals found guilty of such offences by invoking relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
What Comes Next
With the alleged prime accused Avijit Biswas absconding and ED officials maintaining silence on operational details, the investigation is expected to intensify. The scale of the alleged fraud — spanning 20,000 victims and ₹165 crore — suggests a well-organised network, and further arrests or summons are likely as the probe deepens.
Point of View
000 people by exploiting their trust in government welfare schemes — points to a deeply organised operation, not opportunistic crime. The fact that the suspected mastermind was absent and his family offered a rehearsed-sounding explanation raises questions about whether there was advance intelligence of the raids. This also arrives at a politically charged moment: the BJP government in West Bengal has a clear interest in pursuing corruption cases linked to the TMC era, and the new anti-social activities law gives it sweeping confiscation powers. The convergence of federal enforcement and state legislation deserves scrutiny to ensure due process is not a casualty of political momentum.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ED raid in West Bengal about?
The Enforcement Directorate raided eight locations in Kolkata and Bangaon on 21 July as part of a probe into a ₹165 crore fraud where around 20,000 people were allegedly deceived into paying money in exchange for benefits under Central and state government welfare schemes. The case involves charges of financial corruption and forgery.
Who is Avijit Biswas and why is he named in the case?
Avijit Biswas is a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader based in Bangaon, North 24 Parganas, who is believed to be the alleged mastermind of the welfare scheme fraud. He was not present when ED officials searched his residence; his family and neighbours confirmed he rarely stays at home.
How much money was allegedly collected and from how many people?
According to sources, approximately ₹165 crore was allegedly collected from around 20,000 individuals on the false pretext of securing government welfare scheme benefits for them.
What is the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Act, 2026?
It is a recently enacted state law under the BJP government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari that contains strong anti-corruption provisions. The Act empowers the state government to confiscate property of persons involved in corruption-related offences by invoking relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Which areas were covered in the ED raids?
The eight locations searched include four in Kolkata and four in Bangaon sub-division of North 24 Parganas district. The raids were conducted simultaneously by multiple ED teams accompanied by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.
