The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday carried out searches at seven locations associated with Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Mohammad Nadimul Haque as part of a money laundering investigation linked to the Urdu newspaper Akhbar-e-Mashriq.
The searches were conducted across Delhi, West Bengal and Jharkhand and focused on locations connected to Haque and the company that publishes the newspaper.
Haque, 56, is a journalist and businessman and serves as a director of Akhbar-E-Mashriq Pvt Ltd, the company behind Akhbar-e-Mashriq.
Searches conducted in Kolkata, Delhi and Ranchi
An ED team from its Kolkata zonal office conducted simultaneous searches at seven premises, including locations in Kolkata, Delhi and Ranchi.
In Kolkata, investigators searched the Akhbar-e-Mashriq office situated on Darga Road in the Park Circus area. Central security personnel were deployed around the premises during the operation, with access restricted while the searches continued.
The agency also searched Haque’s government accommodation in Delhi, which is reportedly being used as a temporary office by the TMC.
The operation began early Monday morning, with ED officials working alongside central security personnel and the concerned state police forces.
What is the ED investigating?
The investigation centres on allegations involving the publication and circulation of material that allegedly promoted communal disharmony.
The case also involves allegations of financial irregularities, including suspected illegal transactions, unaccounted cash dealings and funds allegedly received from suspicious sources.
According to ED sources, the searches are intended to locate documentary and digital material that could help investigators examine the financial transactions of the people and entities under investigation.
The ED’s case has been registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The money laundering investigation originates from an FIR filed by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate.
Financial records and other documents connected with Akhbar-e-Mashriq are being examined as part of the probe.
Newspaper has editions across several cities
Akhbar-e-Mashriq is not limited to Kolkata. The newspaper also has publishing operations in Delhi, Ranchi, Asansol, Siliguri, Bhopal, Lucknow and Srinagar.
The ED searches are therefore expected to focus on financial and operational records connected with the newspaper and its associated entities.
The searches are part of an ongoing investigation, and the allegations being examined by the agency have not been established as charges against Haque.
Who is Mohammad Nadimul Haque?
Mohammad Nadimul Haque represents West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha as a member of the All India Trinamool Congress.
Before entering electoral politics, Haque worked in journalism and writing. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St Xavier’s College, University of Kolkata.
He entered the Rajya Sabha in May 2012 and is currently serving his third term, which runs from 2024 to 2030.
Over the course of his parliamentary career, Haque has also served on several parliamentary committees.
The latest ED searches put the TMC MP and the newspaper linked to him under increased scrutiny as investigators examine alleged financial transactions and other aspects of the case.
