The Enforcement Directorate carried out raids and dismantled an organised immoral trafficking racket operating primarily through bar-cum-restaurants and dance bars in the state of West Bengal.
During the probe, ED had found the accused were involved in the exploitation of vulnerable women through false promises of employment and coercion into prostitution and thereby generating substantial illicit Proceeds of Crime. The accused persons identified as part of this racket include Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Bishnu Mundra and their associates.
The agency-initiated probe based upon multiple FIRs registered under various sections of the IPC, 1860, Arms Act, 1959 and Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1986 which constitute scheduled offences under PMLA, 2002 and charge sheets filed by the West Bengal Police, against various accused persons, including Singh, Siddiqui, Mundra and others. During probe, the agency sleuths found that an organised trafficking and prostitution racket is being operated by the above-named persons primarily through bar-cum-restaurants owned or controlled by them.
The accused persons exploit vulnerable women under false employment promises and coerce them into prostitution to generate substantial proceeds of crime. These illicit funds, acquired in cash, amounting to several crores, are being laundered through multiple companies under their control. “During the searches, cash worth over Rs 1.01 crore and digital devices have been seized along with various property documents. A number of bank account details under the use and operation of the accused/ suspect persons have been identified,” the ED said in a statement.
Two high-end luxury vehicles, including a Land Rover Defender and a Jaguar, have also been frozen under the provisions of PMLA.
