ED raids multiple Kolkata locations in multi-crore lottery fraud probe

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids and search operations in and around Kolkata in connection to a multi-crore alleged financial fraud and money laundering through lottery tickets.

Three teams of the central agency officials carried raids and search operations in at least three locations in Kolkata.

The central agency officials carried out raids in at least three locations in Kolkata, Madhyamgram area in North 24 Parganas district and two other locations.

In Madhyamgram's Michael Nagar, raids and searches were conducted in a lottery-ticket printing factory.

The other two places where raid and search operations were conducted were at Lake Market and Lake Gardens in South Kolkata.

The central agency also conducted raids at the offices-cum-residences of two lottery agents, people in the know said.

Multiple charges against the lottery scam include evasion of taxes and diversion of the proceeds of the income illegally.

The Leader of Opposition in West Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari had been alleging a lottery scam in West Bengal for the last few days in which several poor people in rural India have lost their money.

Meanwhile, in another operation, ED arrested four persons, including two Bangladeshi nationals, in connection with money laundering case and illegal Bangladeshi Infiltration case for facilitating illegal infiltration and human trafficking in India.

Meanwhile, arrested former Food Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been hospitalized.

Mallick was arrested by ED in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution case in the state.

ED on Thursday took exception over West Bengal correctional services department for not informing the central agency about the hospitalization of the former and jailed minister.

The minister had been admitted at a private hospital on Saturday.

However, ED came to know of the development on Thursday.

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