West Bengal election issue's (ai image)
West Bengal election issue’s (ai image)

West Bengal Actions: A series of legal actions by central agencies about a month before voting in West Bengal has shaken the foundations of the power brokers in Kolkata. Not one or two, but a total of 10 cases heating up simultaneously have put mafias involved in extortion and suppressing others in crisis. When the whip of the law cracked, some strongmen were forced to go underground. Overall, this assembly election is nothing less than a trial by fire for Mamata Banerjee’s government.

In the past few days, concrete steps ranging from raids in different cities of Bengal, property attachments, issuing summons to filing charge sheets have created a panic in the corridors of power. Names of TMC leaders, administrative officers of the Bengal government, businessmen, and people linked to alleged crime syndicates have surfaced in these actions.

IPAC Case: Raids in Several Cities, Hints of Hawala Network

First, let’s talk about the IPAC case. On April 2, 2026, the ED conducted simultaneous raids on 11 locations in several cities across the country: Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Vijayawada, and Ranchi. These raids targeted IPAC offices, homes of its directors, and offices of associated companies. During the investigation, the ED team found documents and digital evidence pointing towards money laundering and not just domestic but international hawala networks. The investigating agency is now working to determine whether illegal funding was taking place in the name of electoral activities. During the raids in this case, the state’s own CM, Mamata Banerjee, had forcibly taken away documents. The Supreme Court had reprimanded her for this.

Partha Chatterjee Case/Teacher Recruitment Scam: ED Pressure, Strictness on Ignoring Summons

Bengal’s former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is once again in the ED’s crosshairs. On April 11, 2026, raids were conducted at his residence in Kolkata and the office of his associate Prasanna Kumar Roy. According to the ED, he was sent summons three times in the SSC recruitment scam but did not appear for questioning even once.

It is notable that in 2022, the ED had arrested him in the primary teacher recruitment scam, and in 2025, he received conditional bail from the Supreme Court. Now, the ED is investigating several cases against him related to primary teacher, SSC assistant teacher, and Group C-D recruitment.

‘Sona Pappu’ Case: Cash, Gold, and Weapons Recovered, Accused Absconding

The ED had conducted raids on 8 locations on April 1 against Bishwajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu, linked to a notorious syndicate in Kolkata. During this, approximately 1.47 crore rupees in cash, gold and silver jewelry worth 67 lakh rupees, a Fortuner car, and several important documents were recovered.

The most shocking aspect was that a revolver made in the USA was also found at his home, which was later handed over to the West Bengal Police. The investigation revealed that this entire network was generating huge amounts of black money through extortion, land grabbing, and illegal construction.

Currently, Sona Pappu is absconding and is not participating in the investigation despite ED summons. In this case, businessman Jay Kamdar has also been issued a summons, whose links are said to be connected to police officer Santanu Sinha Biswas. According to the ED, senior TMC leaders will also be questioned in this matter.

Amit Ganguly Case: Major Racket of Land Grabbing Using Fake Documents

On March 28, 2026, the ED conducted raids on 7 locations in Kolkata, which included premises of Amit Ganguly and his associates, accused of land grabbing and fraud. The investigation revealed that the accused would seize expensive lands by creating fake agreements, powers of attorney, and forged documents.

After that, real estate projects would be built on those same lands and sold to the common people. Bank accounts were also used in this entire game for money laundering. The ED has frozen several bank accounts

Kolkata

Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of India’s West Bengal state and was the capital of British India until 1911. Founded as a trading post by the British East India Company in 1690, it grew into a major colonial port and a historic center for Indian art, literature, and intellectual thought during the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, it is a bustling metropolis renowned for its colonial architecture, vibrant cultural festivals like Durga Puja, and as the home of figures such as Rabindranath Tagore.

Hyderabad

Hyderabad is a historic city in southern India, founded in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah. It is renowned for landmarks like the Charminar monument and Golconda Fort, which reflect its rich legacy as the capital of the Qutb Shahi dynasty and later the Nizams of Hyderabad. Today, it is a major technology and business hub, often called “Cyberabad,” while preserving its distinct cultural heritage in cuisine, language, and architecture.

Delhi

Delhi is India’s capital city, with a history spanning over two millennia, serving as the seat of several empires including the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughals. It is a major cultural and political hub, home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Red Fort, Qutub Minar, and Humayun’s Tomb. The city is known for its vibrant blend of ancient monuments, bustling markets, and modern infrastructure.

Mumbai

Mumbai, formerly known as Bombay, is a major port city on India’s west coast and the financial capital of the country. Its modern history began in the 17th century when it was ceded to the British East India Company, transforming it from a group of islands into a global trading hub. Today, it is a bustling metropolis famous for its Bollywood film industry, colonial-era architecture like the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, and vibrant coastal landmarks such as the Gateway of India.

Bengaluru

Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) is the capital of India’s Karnataka state, founded as a mud fort in 1537 by Kempe Gowda I. It gained prominence in the 19th century under British rule as a major military and administrative center, later evolving into India’s premier technology hub, earning the nickname “Silicon Valley of India.” Today, it is a dynamic metropolis known for its parks, vibrant culture, and global IT industry.

Vijayawada

Vijayawada is a major city in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, situated on the banks of the Krishna River. Historically, it has been a significant cultural and commercial center for centuries, with ancient sites like the Undavalli Caves (rock-cut temples dating to the 4th-5th centuries) and the Kanaka Durga Temple, a prominent Hindu pilgrimage site. Its strategic location made it a vital hub for trade and transportation in the region.

Ranchi

Ranchi is the capital city of Jharkhand, India, historically known as the summer capital of Bihar under British rule due to its pleasant climate. The area is rich in tribal heritage, particularly of the Munda and Oraon communities, and features notable sites like the Jagannath Temple (built in 1691) and the scenic Ranchi Lake. Today, it serves as a major administrative and educational hub in eastern India.

West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in eastern India, historically part of the ancient kingdoms of Magadha and Bengal, with a rich cultural legacy from the medieval Bengal Sultanate and the British colonial era. It is renowned as the birthplace of the Bengali Renaissance in the 19th-20th centuries, a period of profound social and artistic reform, and for its global contributions to literature, art, and cinema. Its capital, Kolkata, served as the capital of British India until 1911 and remains a major cultural and intellectual hub.