ED Searches Akhbar-e-Mashriq Offices in Three Cities; Freezes Bank Balances Worth ₹5.25 Crore
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office-II, conducted searches at nine premises across Kolkata, Ranchi and New Delhi between September 7 and 9, 2026, in connection with a money-laundering investigation involving M/s Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd., its associated entities and directors.
The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The premises covered included the offices of Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd., publisher of the Urdu daily newspaper Akhbar-e-Mashriq, as well as M/s Crayons Advertising and M/s Mashriq Media Pvt. Ltd. The residential premises of Trinamool Congress MP Md. Nadimul Haque and other individuals were also searched.
The ED initiated its investigation following an FIR registered by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. The FIR alleged that the newspaper and its associated digital and social media platforms had published and circulated material promoting communal disharmony. It also raised concerns over allegedly questionable financial transactions.
According to the ED’s investigation, Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd. maintained several bank accounts with Karnataka Bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), ICICI Bank and Jammu & Kashmir Bank. These accounts reportedly recorded cumulative cash deposits exceeding ₹60 crore.
The agency also found that three accounts held with Karnataka Bank, into which approximately ₹5.60 crore had been deposited in cash, were subsequently closed by the company. Further scrutiny reportedly identified Bitcoin purchase transactions originating from suspected tainted funds, with no clear business rationale established for the transactions.
The ED has also alleged that the company inflated the number of newspaper copies it claimed to have printed, reporting circulation figures significantly higher than the actual number of copies printed. According to the agency, this was allegedly done to misrepresent circulation figures and obtain higher advertising revenues.
During the search operations, officials seized documents and digital devices, including mobile phones, laptops and hard drives, for further examination. The agency also froze bank accounts belonging to Akhbar-e-Mashriq Pvt. Ltd. containing balances of approximately ₹5.25 crore.
The ED’s investigation is ongoing, with officials examining the seized material and financial records to establish the money trail and determine the nature of the alleged irregularities.
News Source : Directorate of Enforcement (ED) – Official Press Release, Government of India
