This operation follows a series of high-profile ED actions in the city in recent months. In September, the agency launched raids linked to illegal sand mining, searching 22 sites across West Bengal, including Behala and Jhargram. In Gopiballavpur, Jhargram, the ED targeted a three-storey house belonging to Sheikh Jahirul Ali, allegedly involved in the illegal sand trade near the Subarnarekha River. Officials seized documents and inspected vehicles connected to the operation.
In Kolkata, the ED also raided the office of GD Mining on James Long Sarani in Behala, along with its branch in Bidhannagar Sector V. The company’s head, Arun Sharaf, was arrested during the operation, highlighting the agency’s crackdown on illegal mining activities.
Separately, the ED has been pursuing cases involving fake passports and illegal foreign betting platforms. In Khardah, North 24 Parganas, the residence of transport businessman Manoj Kumar Gupta at Narmada Abasan was searched, with key documents seized in connection with a fake passport racket.
In a related development, the ED seized assets worth Rs 11.14 crore from former cricketers Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan for their alleged links to illegal online betting platforms such as 1XBet and 1XBat Sporting Lines. The assets include mutual fund investments under Raina’s name valued at Rs6.64 crore and immovable property worth Rs4.5 crore linked to Dhawan.
The ED’s operations demonstrate a continued focus on dismantling illegal networks across sectors, from human trafficking and mining to financial crimes and online betting, with further investigations underway.
