ED Raids 13 Locations Across Five States in Alleged Terror Funding and Illegal Infiltration Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out coordinated search operations at 13 locations across five states as part of a money laundering investigation into an alleged terror-funding and illegal infiltration network. The searches, conducted by the ED’s Lucknow Zonal Office under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), stem from an FIR registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS).
According to the ED, the investigation concerns an organised syndicate allegedly involved in facilitating the illegal infiltration of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India, arranging forged Indian identity documents, and assisting in their rehabilitation and settlement in different parts of the country. The agency is probing the financial trail linked to these alleged activities and emphasises that the investigation is ongoing.
Searches were conducted at premises in West Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Maharashtra, including locations in Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Saharanpur, Faridabad, Batla House and Madanpur Khadar in Delhi, and Raigarh in Maharashtra. Officials searched residences, institutions and entities suspected of being connected to the alleged network.
The ED has alleged that its investigation uncovered a deep-rooted financial network involving certain charitable trusts and other entities that allegedly received substantial foreign contributions. Investigators claim these funds were routed through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts and layered financial transactions before being diverted to facilitate the alleged illegal activities. The agency is also examining cash withdrawals and numerous small-value transfers that it says may have been used to channel money to suspected beneficiaries. These are allegations under investigation and have not been adjudicated in court.
During the searches, ED officials reportedly recovered ₹40 lakh in cash and around 180 grams of gold coins from the premises of Harora Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom in West Bengal. The agency has stated that it is investigating the source of the seized assets and their possible connection to the alleged money laundering network.
Officials have described the operation as part of a broader effort to dismantle financial networks allegedly supporting unlawful infiltration and activities that may have implications for national security. The searches are intended to identify the movement of funds, gather documentary and digital evidence, and determine the role of individuals and organisations under scrutiny. No findings of guilt have been established, and the investigation remains at a preliminary stage.
The ED has confirmed that further investigation is in progress and that evidence collected during the raids will be examined to determine whether additional action, including arrests or attachment of assets, is warranted under the PMLA. The outcome of the probe is expected to depend on forensic examination of the seized material and further investigation by the agency.
