ED raids 13 sites in money-laundering probe

The Enforcement Directorate conducted coordinated searches at 13 premises across four states on Thursday, July 16, 2026, as part of a major money laundering investigation linked to an alleged syndicate accused of facilitating illegal infiltration and forging identity documents. The raids, executed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, targeted locations in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, and West Bengal.

The operation was led by the agency's Lucknow zonal office and is based on a case registered by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad in 2024. That case alleged the existence of an organized network involved in the illegal entry of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals into India. According to officials, the syndicate is accused of arranging forged Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and passports, and helping the individuals settle in various parts of the country.

The financial probe centers on allegations that several charitable trusts and entities received substantial foreign contributions, which were then allegedly diverted to support these activities. Investigators described a complex financial network designed to conceal the movement of...