ED searches multiple Kolkata premises in probe into alleged deposit‑scheme fraud
Kolkata — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday, September 16, conducted searches at multiple premises in Kolkata as part of a money‑laundering probe tied to an alleged investment fraud, officials said. The agency carried out operations in both Kolkata and Indore (Madhya Pradesh), raiding a total of about 17 premises linked to the Amrit group of companies and its promoters under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to officials, the group and its directors are alleged to have mobilised funds from members of the public through various deposit schemes by promising attractive returns. The ED said these promised returns were not repaid, leading to the present probe into alleged cheating and money‑laundering activities.
"The group of companies and its directors are alleged to have collected money from the general public under the guise of various deposit schemes with the promise of high return but did not repay the promised return," officials said.
ED action on September 16 follows initial allegations of an investment fraud prompting investigation under the PMLA, the law that allows the agency to probe proceeds of crime and related laundering. The agency did not provide an immediate breakdown of how many premises were searched in Kolkata versus Indore.
- Agency: Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- Law used: Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA)
- Entities involved: Amrit group of companies and its promoters
- Allegation: Collection of public deposits with promise of high returns and failure to repay
- Premises raided: About 17 across Kolkata and Indore
Attempts to reach the company or its promoters for comment were unsuccessful, and the ED did not immediately disclose whether any arrests or seizures were made during the searches. The agency typically conducts such raids to collect documentary evidence, electronic material and other records that could reveal the flow of funds and the role of promoters, directors or front entities in alleged money‑laundering chains.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Operation date | September 16, 2026 |
| Locations | Kolkata (West Bengal), Indore (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Number of premises | About 17 (both cities combined) |
| Allegation | Investment/deposit schemes; failure to repay promised returns |
The case will be watched closely in Kolkata, where investors and small depositors have in recent years been sensitive to reports of fraudulent schemes promising outsized returns. Regulatory and enforcement activity in the city often prompts depositors to approach consumer forums, police or financial regulators. The ED's involvement escalates the matter to a federal probe level, with potential consequences including attachment of assets and prosecutions under PMLA if proceeds of crime are established.
Legal experts and consumer advocates in the city note that PMLA actions focus on tracing and confiscating the monetary trail rather than the original complaint of cheating, which may be pursued in parallel by local police or financial regulators. For affected depositors in Kolkata, the ED's search operations may offer a pathway to recovery if investigators can link diverted funds to identifiable assets.
Officials emphasised that the investigation is ongoing. Further disclosures, including the outcome of searches, possible seizures, and any subsequent summons or charges, will be a matter for the ED to announce as the probe progresses.
Given the cross‑state footprint of the raids, coordination between agencies in West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh is likely to remain an operational priority as investigators examine company records, bank transactions and communications to establish the nature and extent of alleged irregularities.
This report is based on official information released on September 16, 2026; further details were not available at the time of filing.
