KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has recovered Rs 40 lakh in cash and 180 grams of gold coins during a search at Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom Khalilkapur Madrasa in Haroa, West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district.
The searches were part of a large-scale operation carried out across 16 locations in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Delhi and Haryana under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). According to the ED, the raid forms part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged syndicate accused of financing infiltration and facilitating the settlement of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals in India through forged identity documents.
The ED confirmed that the cash and gold coins were seized from Al-Jamiatul Islamia Darul Uloom in Haroa. Officials stated that the madrasa management and its staff failed to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the legal source of the recovered cash and gold, prompting the agency to seize the assets for further investigation.
Besides the cash and gold, the agency also confiscated bank records, financial documents and digital devices, which are now being examined to trace financial transactions and establish possible links with the wider network.
According to the ED, the investigation centres on allegations that certain charitable trusts, organisations and other entities received substantial foreign contributions, which were allegedly diverted through multiple bank accounts, mule accounts, layered transactions and hawala channels.
Investigators suspect these funds were used to facilitate illegal activities, including financing infiltration networks, arranging forged Indian identity documents such as Aadhaar and PAN cards, helping illegal immigrants settle in different states, securing employment for them, establishing businesses and supporting other operations.
Officials also indicated that the alleged syndicate relied on cash withdrawals and numerous small-value bank transfers to distribute funds to suspected beneficiaries while avoiding detection. The money laundering case stems from a 2024 ED case registered on the basis of an FIR lodged by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in October 2023.
The ATS investigation reportedly began after the arrest of Mohammad alias Adil-ur-Rehman, an alleged Bangladeshi national, in Varanasi four years ago. According to investigators, he had illegally entered India and obtained forged identity documents.
During interrogation, he allegedly revealed the names of two other Bangladeshi nationals Sheikh Najib-ul-Haque and Abu Huraira who were reportedly residing in Deoband, Saharanpur, after being assisted by the same network.
The ATS alleged that the syndicate operated across West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh, arranging forged Indian documents and facilitating illegal settlement of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals.
According to the ATS investigation, certain NGOs in Delhi and Haryana and some madrasas in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh allegedly formed part of the larger network involved in human trafficking, forgery of official documents and facilitating infiltration.
The ATS has already filed seven chargesheets over the past two years after registering the FIR under charges including human trafficking, forgery for the purpose of cheating, criminal conspiracy, and offences under the Foreigners Act and Passport Act.
Investigators have alleged that the syndicate handled financial transactions amounting to nearly Rs 20 crore, including foreign funding allegedly routed through hawala channels and mule bank accounts.
During court proceedings opposing the bail plea of one of the accused, Delhi resident Dr Abdul Ghaffar, the prosecution informed the court that intelligence inputs dating back to October 2021 had led agencies including the ATS and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to monitor the network.
According to the prosecution, the investigation uncovered evidence suggesting that individuals allegedly operating under the guise of charitable activities were attempting to facilitate the settlement of Rohingya and illegal Bangladeshi nationals across India, an act investigators claimed posed serious national security concerns.
The ATS subsequently shared evidence indicating possible money laundering with the ED’s Lucknow Zonal Office, following which the central agency initiated proceedings under the PMLA. The ED said the searches at the remaining 15 locations continued till late July 16 night and that findings from those premises are still being compiled.
Officials indicated that the seized financial records, electronic devices and transaction details are expected to play a crucial role in uncovering the full extent of the alleged network, its funding channels and any individuals or organisations connected to the suspected money laundering and infiltration operations.
