Rs 1 Crore Cash, 2 Luxury Cars Seized In Major Crackdown On Human Trafficking Racket In Bengal

Kolkata | November 8, 2025 In a major action against a human trafficking and prostitution racket, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday seized over Rs 1.01 crore in cash and two luxury cars during simultaneous raids across West Bengal. The searches were part of a money laundering probe into an organised crime network operating out of dance bars and restaurants in Kolkata, Bidhannagar, and Siliguri. According to officials, the raids were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The seized cars include a Land Rover Defender and a Jaguar, along with several digital devices and property papers. Investigators also found multiple bank accounts linked to the accused, believed to have been used to handle the illegal funds. In a shocking discovery, ED officers came across “plastic notes” being used as a form of currency inside the dance bar premises for payments linked to trafficking and other unlawful activities. The case is based on several FIRs and charge sheets filed by the West Bengal Police against the main accused—Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra, and their associates. Investigators revealed that the group exploited vulnerable women by offering fake job opportunities and later forcing them into prostitution. The money earned from these crimes was allegedly laundered through a network of shell companies controlled by the accused. The ED is now examining the financial routes and international connections of the racket. Officials said the probe is ongoing, with more raids and arrests expected in the coming days. The agency is also tracing links between the accused and foreign entities suspected of being involved in cross-border trafficking. This operation marks one of the biggest crackdowns on human trafficking and money laundering in the state this year. Authorities believe that dismantling such networks is crucial to protecting women from exploitation and preventing the flow of black money through illegal channels. : Rs 1 Crore Cash, 2 Luxury Cars Seized In Major Crackdown On Human Trafficking Racket In Bengal Over Rs 1.01 crore in cash and two luxury cars were seized in West Bengal after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided multiple locations linked to a human trafficking and prostitution racket. The raids took place in Kolkata, Bidhannagar, and Siliguri as part of a money laundering investigation. Officials found two cars, a Land Rover Defender and a Jaguar, along with digital devices, property papers, and fake “plastic notes” used as money inside the dance bars. The accused—Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra, and their associates—allegedly lured women with false job offers and forced them into prostitution. The ED said the illegal income was laundered through fake companies. The case is based on FIRs filed under the Indian Penal Code, the Arms Act, and the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. The agency is now tracing the money trail and checking for international connections. This major crackdown highlights the ongoing efforts to fight organized crime and protect vulnerable women from exploitation.