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The Enforcement Directorate has carried out another round of searches at premises linked to Kolkata-based Merlin Group as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation. The case relates to alleged irregularities in land acquisition, use of forged ownership documents and suspicious financial transactions in real estate projects. The agency is also reviewing possible connections with public officials and political figures. This follows earlier action taken in the past week, indicating a deeper probe into fund flows, project structures and ownership patterns under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted fresh searches at multiple premises linked to the Merlin Group in Kolkata as part of its ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The searches covered offices, residential properties and locations associated with the company and its key persons, as officials continued to gather financial and documentary evidence. Advertisement
This latest action comes after an earlier round of searches carried out in the past week, where premises linked to Merlin Projects Limited and its promoters, including Sushil Mohta and Saket Mohta, were covered. The continued action suggests that the agency is expanding the scope of its probe and examining additional entities connected to the group.
The investigation is centred on allegations that certain land parcels were acquired using questionable methods, including the use of forged or disputed ownership documents. Officials are looking into whether such land was later used for real estate developments and sold to buyers, raising concerns around title clarity and due diligence processes followed in these projects.
Alongside land-related issues, the ED is also examining financial transactions linked to these developments. The agency suspects that funds generated from these projects may have been routed through multiple entities to conceal their origin. Transaction trails, bank records and company linkages are being analysed to identify possible proceeds of crime and how they were layered or moved across accounts.
Another aspect under scrutiny is the alleged connection between the group and certain political figures and government officials in West Bengal. Investigators are reviewing whether any undue influence or facilitation played a role in land acquisition or project approvals. However, no formal conclusions have been made public at this stage.
The company has maintained that it is cooperating with the investigation and that its projects have been executed through valid agreements and approvals. It has also indicated that it is providing documents and clarifications as required by the authorities.
The case is part of a broader pattern of enforcement activity in Kolkata and surrounding regions, where agencies have been investigating land-related disputes and financial irregularities in the real estate sector. Such cases have brought attention to issues around land title verification, regulatory oversight and the structure of project financing in certain markets.
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