The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday launched coordinated raids across several locations in West Bengal’s Paschim Bardhaman district, intensifying its probe into suspected financial irregularities and money laundering linked to the coal and sand trade.

Accompanied by central paramilitary forces, ED teams carried out searches in Pandaveswar, Jamuria, Andal, Durgapur, and Panagarh from early morning. The action covered the residences of multiple businessmen as well as a serving police officer.

In Durgapur’s City Centre area, officials searched the home of Manoranjan Mondal, currently the Officer in Charge of Budbud Police Station. Mondal had earlier been suspended during his tenure as Officer in Charge of Baraboni Police Station, adding to the significance of the operation.

At the same time, ED teams raided the residence of sand trader Prabir Dutta in Sepco Township. In Jamuria, a 16-member ED team questioned hardware businessman Rajesh Bansal for several hours. In Pandaveswar’s Nabagram area, the house of coal trader Maijul Shah was also sealed off as part of the investigation.

The Enforcement Directorate has not yet issued an official statement explaining the precise trigger for the raids. However, sources indicated that the searches are connected to ongoing investigations into alleged money laundering and financial misconduct involving regional coal and sand businesses.