The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday launched coordinated raids at 12 locations across Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Maharashtra in connection with a massive ₹750 crore fake Input Tax Credit (ITC) scam. The searches, conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, began early in the morning and are still ongoing, officials confirmed.
According to officials, the investigation revolves around a vast network of shell companies and unauthorized financial channels allegedly used to generate and launder fraudulent ITC claims. The case traces back to the arrest of Shiva Kumar Deora, believed to be the mastermind behind the operation. Deora was taken into custody in May 2025, and subsequent interrogation and analysis of seized evidence led to the identification of several other individuals and firms suspected of laundering the proceeds of crime.
The ED stated that Thursday’s search operations were driven by fresh, actionable intelligence which helped pinpoint additional beneficiaries and financial conduits within the illicit network. The objective is to trace the complete money trail and seize incriminating evidence tied to the scam.
The operation underscores the agency’s intensified efforts to dismantle complex tax fraud syndicates and recover laundered assets. More arrests and seizures are likely as the probe deepens.
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