Kolkata, The Enforcement Directorate detected alleged financial irregularities of around ₹ 60 crore in an Urdu newspaper linked to TMC Rajya Sabha MP Nadimul Haque, during searches for over 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday.
“Financial records and digital documents are being examined to establish the trail of the transactions and determine the nature and source of the funds under investigation,” an ED official told PTI on condition of anonymity. The central probe agency is probing alleged illegal financial transactions involving the newspaper and is examining whether some of the funds were routed through hawala channels, sources said. During the searches, ED officials examined bank transaction records, financial documents and digital material, and questioned Haque at his residence and office in Kolkata, he said. The ED investigators are also looking into the alleged movement of funds linked to the TMC, he said.
Investigators found discrepancies relating to transactions worth around ₹ 60 crore for which they could not immediately find satisfactory supporting records, according to ED sources.
The central probe agency is now examining whether the transactions were genuine business dealings or whether the funds were moved through informal channels, including hawala, the official said. The TMC MP was in Ranchi when the operation began and was subsequently brought to Kolkata on Monday night, following which he was questioned during the search at his residence and office, the official said.
