The Enforcement Directorate began search operations on Monday morning, September 7, 2026, at seven premises located in Kolkata, Delhi and Ranchi. The raids were part of a money‑laundering investigation targeting Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Nadimul Haque, who also owns the Urdu daily Akhbar‑E‑Mashriq.
Haque, 56, has been the director of Akhbar‑E‑Mashriq Pvt. Ltd. since 2004. The newspaper, founded in 1980, publishes daily editions in six cities, including Delhi, Kolkata, Ranchi, Lucknow, Bhopal and Srinagar. In addition to his media role, Haque has served as head of the West Bengal Urdu Akademi.
According to officials, the case involves allegations that the daily promoted communal disharmony and engaged in illegal financial activities. The charges include unaccounted cash transactions, funding from suspicious sources and other illicit transfers. The investigation was triggered by an FIR filed under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, after which the ED lodged an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR). The Directorate also froze ₹44,000 crore in various bank accounts linked to the party.
The political backdrop of the probe is notable. Haque remains a staunch supporter of Mamata Banerjee following her defeat in the 2026 state assembly election. Four Trinamool Rajya Sabha MPs resigned, and three were subsequently re‑elected with the backing of the Bharatiya Janata Party. In the course of the investigation, the ED questioned Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra and searched his residence, underscoring the broader scope of the inquiry.
