The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is carrying out raids at six locations in Kolkata in connection with the ration distribution scam in West Bengal.
The six locations are IB block, Baguihati, New Alipore, Metropolitan, Sec 5 in Salt Lake and Burrabazar
The ED is raiding the premises of businessmen Bakibur Rahman and Hanis Tosiwal in Baiguihati; and Biswajit Das in Salt Lake.
Das, who has an import and export business, is known to be close to Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Adhya, who was arrested last month in connection to the ration scam.
A source told India Today that his car is also being searched by ED officials.
The probe agency is investigating whether black money earned from the scam was laundered through his business.
The source also said that Tosiwal allegedly tried to hide his mobile phone as the ED officials arrived at his residence.
But an ED officer recovered the phone from a neighbour’s house.
Meanwhile, a money exchange office in Burrabazar area is also being raided.
Tuesday’s development came more than a month after a team of ED officials were attacked by a mob in Sandeshkhali while conducting raids in connection with the ration distribution scam.
The team, comprising probe agency officials and paramilitary forces, were attacked on January 5 as it approached Trinamool Congress leader Shah Jahan Sheikh’s residence.
The mob consisting of over 200 locals, had also vandalised the vehicles belonging to government officials.
About three weeks after the violent incident, the ED again conducted fresh raids on Sheikh, who is currently on the news again after a group of women in Sandeshkhali alleged that he and his “gang” forcefully captured land and sexually harassing them.
The West Bengal government on Monday formed a 10-member team headed by a DIG-rank woman officer to look into the allegations.