Enforcement Directorate raids multiple locations in West Bengal in trafficking racket case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, November 7, 2025, conducted raids at several places in West Bengal in connection with a money laundering case involving human trafficking and sex work carried out in dance bars and bar-restaurants across the state.

According to the ED, “the investigation revealed that the defendants were involved in exploiting vulnerable women through false promises of employment and coercion into prostitution, thereby generating significant amounts of illegal criminal proceeds.”

Emergency Service officials identified three prime suspects and their associates in connection with this crime. Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra and their associates are being investigated after multiple FIRs were registered under various sections of IPC, 1860, Arms Act, 1959 and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1986; these constitute scheduled offenses under PMLA, 2002 and charges filed by West Bengal Police.

The investigation revealed that the smuggling racket was primarily run through bars and restaurants owned by the three men charged in this case.

“These illicit funds obtained in cash (amounting to several crores) are laundered through multiple companies under their control. During the searches, cash worth Rs 1.01 crore and digital devices along with various property documents were seized,” an official statement from the ED said on Saturday, November 8. Two high-end luxury vehicles, including Land Rover Defender and Jaguar, were also seized in this case. Many bank accounts linked to this smuggling ring were also identified. Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

At least eight facilities in Bidhannagar (North 24 Parganas district), Kolkata and Siliguri were raided by the federal agency on Friday, November 7.

Plastic notes used as currency for payments linked to immoral smuggling activities were also seized from the dance bar.