ED raids Kolkata, Purulia in West Bengal excise scam probe
Synopsis
The ED has escalated its West Bengal crackdown with simultaneous raids on a Kolkata liquor company and a Purulia hotel owner's premises, targeting an excise duty scam whose FIR dates to 2015–16. It is the latest in a string of federal enforcement actions in the state spanning chit funds, municipal recruitment fraud, and now liquor excise evasion.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided two locations in West Bengal on Friday, 25 July 2025 — a liquor company office in Kolkata and a hotel owner's house and restaurant in Purulia .
The accused liquor sales company is alleged to have evaded excise duty ; the restaurant is reportedly a venue where the company sold liquor.
West Bengal Police filed an FIR in this case in 2015–16 ; the ED registered its ECIR in 2021 after financial irregularities surfaced.
All ED teams were escorted by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel.
The action is part of a broader ED push in Bengal that also covers a chit fund case , a municipal recruitment scam , and a scheme that allegedly collected ₹165 crore from 20,000 depositors .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted simultaneous raid and search operations at two locations in West Bengal on Friday, 25 July 2025, as part of a full-fledged probe into alleged excise duty irregularities. The targeted sites are a liquor sales company office in Kolkata and the residence and restaurant of a hotel owner in Purulia — marking the agency's latest enforcement action in the state.
Where the Raids Were Conducted
In Kolkata, ED officials searched the premises of a liquor sales company accused of evading excise duty. A separate team simultaneously raided the house and restaurant of a hotel owner located near Parbeliya Bazar under the jurisdiction of Nituria Police Station in Purulia district. The restaurant is reportedly a venue where the accused company sold liquor.
Each ED team was accompanied by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, a standard protocol for high-sensitivity financial crime operations.
Background of the Excise Scam Case
The case has a long paper trail. West Bengal Police first registered an FIR in 2015–16 following allegations of large-scale corruption in excise duty collection. The ED entered the picture in 2021, filing an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) after the initial investigation reportedly revealed massive financial irregularities. Friday's raids represent a significant escalation in the federal agency's parallel inquiry.
Part of a Wider ED Push in West Bengal
This is not an isolated action. Following a regime change in West Bengal, the ED has intensified its presence across the state, pursuing multiple corruption and financial fraud cases simultaneously.
In recent weeks, the agency conducted raids in Howrah and Nadia districts in connection with a chit fund-related case. Separately, the ED is probing a municipal recruitment corruption case, and a few days ago carried out searches at eight locations — including Bangaon and Kolkata — over allegations of collecting money from citizens on the pretext of providing government benefits. According to reports, approximately ₹165 crore was allegedly collected from around 20,000 depositors in that scheme.
What Comes Next
The excise duty irregularities probe now joins a growing list of active ED investigations in West Bengal. Investigators are expected to analyse financial records and transaction trails seized during Friday's operations. Formal arrests or summons could follow depending on the evidence gathered, though no such action has been confirmed as yet.
Point of View
Not episodic policing. What is notable here is the age of the underlying FIR — 2015–16 — suggesting the case lay dormant at the state level for years before the ED stepped in with its ECIR in 2021. That gap raises questions about why state agencies did not pursue it more aggressively earlier. With raids now spanning chit funds, municipal jobs, and liquor excise within weeks of each other, the pattern points to a coordinated federal push that will likely intensify political friction between the Centre and the Bengal government.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the West Bengal excise scam that the ED is investigating?
The case involves alleged large-scale evasion of excise duty by a liquor sales company in West Bengal. West Bengal Police first filed an FIR in 2015–16 following corruption allegations, and the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in 2021 after the probe revealed massive financial irregularities.
Where did the ED conduct raids on 25 July 2025?
The ED raided two locations simultaneously — a liquor sales company office in Kolkata and the residence and restaurant of a hotel owner near Parbeliya Bazar under Nituria Police Station in Purulia district, West Bengal.
Why were CAPF personnel deployed during the raids?
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel escorted each ED team as a standard security measure during high-sensitivity financial crime search operations, particularly in cases involving potential resistance or evidence tampering.
Is this the only ED case active in West Bengal right now?
No. The ED is simultaneously probing a chit fund case with raids in Howrah and Nadia, a municipal recruitment corruption case, and a scheme that allegedly collected around ₹165 crore from approximately 20,000 depositors under the pretext of government benefits. The excise scam probe is the latest addition to this list.
What happens after the raids?
Investigators will examine financial records and documents seized during the searches. Depending on the evidence, the ED could issue summons, record statements, or make arrests, though no such action has been announced following Friday's operations.
