Asansol. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids in the state on Friday. ED investigators are simultaneously searching four districts in connection with a private company's bank fraud case. This morning, they reached Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman, Kolkata, Howrah, and Hooghly, accompanied by central forces. Intensive operations have begun. ED officials raided the home of a chartered accountant during the lockdown. Investigations continued after allegations of corruption involving crores of rupees through shell companies. In this connection, investigators also reached a house in Uttarpara, Hooghly, which was cordoned off by central forces. According to sources, questioning is underway.
The case is linked to Kohinoor Power Private Limited. The company had taken a loan of approximately ₹290 crore from banks under the pretext of setting up a 66 MW coal-based thermal power plant in Kuchidih village (Kandra-Chouk Road) under Chandil police station area of Seraikela-Kharsawan district. This location is just 25-30 kilometers away from Jamshedpur.
The scope of the investigation includes Kohinoor Group promoters Prashant Bothra, Vijay Bothra, other directors, chartered accountant Ashok Sarthi, and their associates. According to ED sources, these searches are being conducted in a ₹290 crore bank fraud case. It is alleged that funds intended for a Jharkhand power plant were laundered in Kolkata. Investigators claim that black money amounting to crores was laundered by opening shell companies here. Consequently, simultaneous search operations have been launched across four districts. The private company had taken a massive bank loan of around ₹290 crore to set up a 66 MW power plant in Jharkhand, but the money was not spent on the plant; instead, it was laundered.
Chartered accountant Ashok Sarthi, living in an elite residence in Lake Town, was directly linked to the company. On this day, investigators questioned Ashok Sarthi and examined several documents. Subsequently, investigators raided the residence of chartered accountant Tarun Kumar Jain at Vivek Bihar Residence in Howrah and scrutinized documents in his possession. Along with this, investigators also visited the home of chartered accountant Sudipta Ghosh on Shibtala Street in Uttarpara. Searches were also conducted at the homes of two chartered accountants in Lake Town and Asansol. In fact, ED officials have received information that several chartered accountants are involved in this financial corruption.
Chartered accountant Sudipta Ghosh stated that officials visited his home with court permission and that the ED is conducting its investigation, which has nothing to do with corruption. However, investigators are trying to ascertain who was actually involved in this ₹290 crore financial transaction and how the money was laundered through shell companies.
