CBI Conducts Multi-Location Raids in Kolkata in Connection With Bank Loan Forgery Case

Kolkata, Jan 2025 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with the support of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), carried out simultaneous raids and search operations at five locations in and around Kolkata on Thursday as part of an ongoing probe into an alleged multi-crore bank loan forgery case. The coordinated action marks a significant escalation in the investigation into financial irregularities involving influential business figures.

According to sources familiar with the development, the raids were conducted in several prominent areas, including the upscale Alipore locality in South Kolkata and New Town on the city’s northern outskirts. These locations are believed to be linked to businessmen accused of fraudulently securing large bank loans by submitting forged and fabricated documents during the loan approval process.

Investigators suspect that the accused individuals manipulated financial records and other mandatory paperwork to obtain loans running into crores of rupees from banks. “The raid and search operations are being carried out based on specific complaints lodged by the concerned bank authorities,” a source associated with the probe said, indicating that the investigation stems from formal banking sector complaints rather than suo motu action.

At one of the Alipore locations, the CBI is reportedly conducting searches at the residence of a well-known woman entrepreneur, whose business dealings are now under scrutiny. Officials are examining documents, electronic devices, and financial records to trace the flow of funds and establish the alleged forgery and misuse of loan amounts.

Notably, the CBI teams were accompanied by a much larger contingent of CAPF personnel than is typically seen during such operations. Sources suggested that the enhanced security deployment was a precautionary measure, influenced by recent events involving another central agency. Last week, Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials faced an unusual situation while carrying out raids at the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office in Salt Lake and at the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain.

During those operations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with senior state bureaucrats and police officers, visited both premises. The ED teams reportedly left the locations after collecting various documents and electronic materials, drawing national attention to the episode and raising questions about operational challenges faced by central agencies in the state.

In light of that experience, officials believe the CBI opted for additional CAPF deployment on Thursday to ensure smooth conduct of the searches without disruption. Meanwhile, the investigation has also taken a legal turn, with a crucial hearing related to the matter scheduled to take place at the Supreme Court later on Thursday, a development that could have significant implications for the ongoing probe.