ED Arrests Rs 3 Crore from Kolkata Businessman’s Residence in Lottery Scam Investigation

Earlier, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had seized assets worth over Rs 277 crore in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant development in its investigation into the same high-profile lottery scam. This action was part of the ED’s ongoing efforts to unravel the complex network behind the fraudulent operation, and it highlighted the agency’s commitment to tracing and freezing illicit assets related to the scam. The seizure of such a large sum underscored the scale and severity of the financial misconduct being investigated, with officials indicating that the probe could uncover links to powerful individuals and networks involved in the illicit activities.

On Friday, the ED made another significant move in its investigation by seizing around Rs 3 crore in cash from the residence of a businessman in Kolkata. This marked an important continuation of the agency’s efforts to break down the network involved in the high-profile lottery scam. The businessman’s residence, which was the focus of the operation, had been under investigation for its potential role in the scam. The cash seizure serves as another crucial piece of evidence in the ED’s wider probe, indicating the substantial financial flow linked to the fraudulent activities.

Since Thursday, the ED has been carrying out coordinated search operations at multiple locations across West Bengal, focusing on various suspects and properties associated with the alleged lottery scam. The operations were aimed at gathering evidence and uncovering the depth of the fraudulent activities in the region. During these raids, which were primarily concentrated in the southern part of Kolkata, the ED recovered a significant amount of cash. However, the final tally of the recovered money was still in progress, as investigators carefully counted and documented the seized funds. The operation reflected the ED’s continued determination to track down the full scope of the scam and its financial ramifications.

To assist with the complex process of tallying the seized funds, a note-counting machine was brought to the businessman’s residence on Kavi Bharati Sarani in Kolkata. This equipment was essential in efficiently and accurately counting the cash recovered during the raid. In addition, similar note-counting machines were deployed to another critical location in Madhyamgram, situated in North 24 Parganas district, where the ED had been conducting searches since Thursday. The use of such equipment highlights the scale of the operation and the need for precision in handling large sums of money tied to the scam.

The focus of the search in Madhyamgram was centered on a building in Micheal Nagar, which is suspected of being both an office and a warehouse for the alleged lottery operation. This site was believed to play a central role in the illegal activities, including the production and distribution of fraudulent lottery tickets. During the search, several important documents related to the operation were seized, providing investigators with vital clues. However, the full financial details of the operation were still being examined, and authorities had not yet confirmed the exact amount of money found at the location. The ongoing investigation continues to explore the financial networks behind the scam, and officials have indicated that further developments in the case are expected.

“The search is ongoing. We have seized several documents, but we cannot disclose the details of the money seized at this time,” an ED official said.

The inquiry into the lottery scam is a key component of a larger money laundering investigation, with authorities suggesting that the scheme could implicate several prominent figures. The ED has stated that the lottery tickets were reportedly being printed and distributed from a building in Madhyamgram, which is central to the investigation.

These recent developments by the ED are part of an extensive nationwide operation that has spanned multiple states, including West Bengal, Sikkim, and Tamil Nadu. In Tamil Nadu, the agency had previously frozen assets valued at more than Rs 277 crore in connection with the ongoing investigation into the same scam.

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