‘Illegal’ call centre case: Enforcement Directorate conducts raids in West Bengal

“The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, March 16, 2026, conducted searches at several locations in poll-bound West Bengal as part of the investigation into the operations of an allegedly illegal call centre,” officials said.

Federal investigation agency officials said, “Around 10 facilities were raided in Siliguri, Howrah, Bidhannagar and Durgapur. The investigation is related to the activities of an ‘illegal’ call centre.” It was not immediately clear whether the investigation was linked to some political funding or incentives related to the election process.

Among those wanted are people named Surashree Kar, Samrat Ghosh and Subhajit Chakraborty. “It is alleged that many people have been deceived through call centers under the scanner,” they said.

The Election Commission announced the schedule for Assembly elections in West Bengal on Sunday, March 15, 2026, stating that the state will hold two-phase elections on April 23 and 29. Votes will be counted on May 4, 2026, along with the three States of Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, apart from the Union Territory of Puducherry.