KOLKATA (India CSR): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has carried out searches at nine premises in Kolkata, Ranchi and New Delhi in a money-laundering investigation involving M/s Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd., publisher of the Urdu daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq, its associate entities and directors. The scale of the financial scrutiny is significant: the ED says the company’s bank accounts recorded cumulative cash deposits exceeding ₹60 crore. During the operation, the agency froze bank balances of about Rs. 5.25 crore and seized documents and digital devices, including mobile phones, laptops and hard drives.
FIR Starts Probe
The ED investigation is based on an FIR registered by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate against Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd. and others. The FIR alleged publication and dissemination of material promoting communal disharmony through the newspaper and its social-media and digital platforms. It also contained allegations of dubious transactions in the company’s accounts. Searches were conducted from September 7 to September 9, 2026, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. The premises searched included offices of Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd., Crayons Advertising and Mashriq Media Pvt. Ltd., as well as residential premises linked to Md. Nadimul Haque, MP and TMC leader, and others.
₹60 Crore Deposits
According to the ED, Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd. held multiple accounts with Karnataka Bank, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and J&K Bank. These accounts reflected cash deposits of more than Rs. 60 crore in total. The agency said three accounts with Karnataka Bank received cash deposits of around Rs. 5.60 crore before being closed by the company. The ED also stated that it found bitcoin-purchase transactions from what it described as tainted sources and without an identifiable business rationale.
Circulation Figures Examined
The ED has alleged that the company overstated the number of newspaper copies printed compared with the actual number printed. According to the agency, the alleged inflation of circulation figures was intended to obtain higher advertisement revenue.
The allegations are under investigation, and further proceedings are continuing.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Searches | Nine premises |
| Search locations | Kolkata, Ranchi and New Delhi |
| Search dates | September 7–9, 2026 |
| Cash deposits examined | More than ₹60 crore |
| Deposits in closed accounts | Approximately ₹5.60 crore |
| Bank balances frozen | Approximately ₹5.25 crore |
| Law invoked | PMLA, 2002 |
