16 July 2024

The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, has arrested Budhaditya Chattopadhyay on July 10, 2024, under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The arrest is linked to accusations of laundering proceeds of crime amounting to Rs. 37 Crore.

Chattopadhyay allegedly perpetrated the crime by promising victims government tenders from the West Bengal Health Department. He instructed them to deposit earnest money into an account under the name M/s ACWBHFWS, which bore a deceptive resemblance to the official abbreviation of the Accountant Controller of West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Services (ACWBHFWS). The investigation was initiated based on an FIR filed by the West Bengal Police at Bidhannagar Police Station, which accused Chattopadhyay and others of defrauding a Bangalore-based company of Rs. 26.15 Crore.

During previous searches related to the case on February 16, 2023, ED officials froze approximately Rs. 1.98 Crore from various bank accounts associated with Chattopadhyay and his associates, in addition to seizing Rs. 8.05 Lakh in cash from his residence. Following his arrest, Chattopadhyay was presented before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Kolkata, which granted the ED custody for six days for further investigation.

The ED continues its efforts to unravel the money trail and gather evidence pertaining to the alleged financial misconduct. Further developments in the case are awaited as investigations progress.