ED Cracks Down on Fake Officer Scam: Attaches Properties Worth Rs 2.2 Crore in Kolkata Extortion Case
In a major move against fraudsters posing as officials, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Kolkata has provisionally attached properties worth Rs 2.2 crore belonging to Sheikh Jinnar Ali. This accused man allegedly ran an extortion racket by pretending to be an ED officer and targeting businessmen. The action happened on Tuesday, as part of the ongoing fight against money laundering in India.
The attached assets include 10 immovable properties in East Bardhaman district, West Bengal, along with bank balances, all owned by Jinnar Ali. ED officials carried out the confiscation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, to stop criminals from benefiting from their illegal gains.
This latest step follows ED’s prosecution complaint filed against Jinnar Ali in a special PMLA court in Kolkata during the last week of August. The investigation kicked off after Bidhannagar South Police Station in Kolkata registered an FIR against Jinnar Ali and his associates. Police reports revealed how these crooks hatched a criminal conspiracy to squeeze money from innocent businessmen.
According to ED’s press statement, the gang would call up businessmen and pose as ED officials. They even sent fake summons, ordering victims to show up at the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate Office for a so-called official inquiry that never existed. Once the businessmen arrived, Jinnar Ali and his team grilled them about their business dealings, pointing out fake complaints and discrepancies in financial records.
To make their scam look real, the accused showed up in a Toyota Fortuner car with an ED insignia plastered on it. They threatened victims with raids by ED and CBI, plus property seizures and arrests, unless they paid up. Scared for their safety, one complainant handed over Rs 1.30 crore in cash and another Rs 20 lakh to the gang’s bank account.
ED arrested Jinnar Ali in July 2024, and he remains in judicial custody today. This case highlights the growing issue of impersonation scams in Kolkata and across India, where fraudsters exploit the fear of government agencies to extort money. Authorities urge businessmen to verify any summons or calls claiming to be from ED to avoid falling into such traps. Stay alert, and report suspicious activities to the police right away!
