The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, September 9, said it seized documents and digital devices during a three day search at premises linked to Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque. The agency also said it froze bank accounts of Urdu daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq with balances of around Rs 5.25 crore.
Haque, 56, is a director of Akhbar-e-Mashriq Private Limited, the company that publishes the Urdu newspaper.
ED alleges suspicious transactions
According to the ED, the investigation began after an FIR registered by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate against Akhbar-e-Mashriq Private Limited and others.
The agency alleged that the newspaper published and circulated material that promoted communal disharmony through its print and digital platforms. It also alleged suspicious financial transactions in the company’s accounts.
The ED said the company operated several bank accounts with Karnataka Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and J&K Bank, with cumulative cash deposits of more than Rs 60 crore.
The agency claimed that three Karnataka Bank accounts received around Rs 5.60 crore in cash deposits before being closed. It also alleged that bitcoin purchases were made using funds it described as tainted, without an identifiable business purpose.
ED questions newspaper circulation figures
The ED further alleged that Akhbar-e-Mashriq inflated its reported newspaper circulation figures.
According to the agency, the company claimed to have printed far more copies than it actually produced, allegedly to secure higher advertising revenue.
The ED said the three day searches began on Monday, September 7, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act at nine premises in Kolkata, Ranchi and New Delhi. The premises included locations linked to companies associated with Haque and his associates, as well as his residence.
The agency said its officials also questioned Haque at his office after he returned to Kolkata from Ranchi.
Phones, laptops and hard drives seized
The ED said the searches resulted in the seizure of mobile phones, laptops, hard drives and other documents.
“Further, bank accounts of M/s Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd., having balances of Rs. 5.25 crore (approx.), have also been frozen,” the agency said.
The TMC has criticised the searches, describing them as “vendetta politics” by the BJP and alleging that the action was aimed at diverting attention from the Delhi building collapse incident.
The ED’s allegations are part of an ongoing investigation and have not been established by a court.
