Kolkata| By Bureau Report: In a twist to the ongoing fake passport scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has turned its attention to a businessman from West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, who allegedly made nearly 900 trips to Bangkok over the past ten years.
Investigators suspect that these frequent travels may be linked to a larger cross-border network involved in passport fraud and illicit foreign exchange operations.
Frequent Bangkok Visits Under Scrutiny
Officials identified the businessman as Vinod Gupta, a resident of Khardah, and said his pattern of travel had raised “serious red flags.”
“We are examining whether these frequent trips abroad are connected to the fake passport racket or related financial dealings,” an ED official said.
On November 3, ED teams conducted coordinated raids across Nadia district and Kolkata, followed by an extensive search at Mr. Gupta’s residence in Khardah the next day.
The operation continued late into the night, with officials seizing a large cache of documents described as containing “vital and suspicious” financial information.
Suspicious Financial Dealings and Forex Links
During preliminary questioning, Mr. Gupta reportedly told investigators that he runs a spice trading business and that his visits to Bangkok were purely for commercial purposes.
However, officials said that Gupta is also involved in foreign exchange trading, and investigators are now examining whether his Bangkok trips were a cover for illegal forex transactions or hawala-linked operations.
“The pattern of fund flows and documentation suggests transactions beyond routine trade activity,” a senior official said, indicating that the agency may summon Mr. Gupta again for detailed questioning.
Trail Traced Through Earlier Arrests
The investigation into Gupta’s activities emerged after the ED, in October, arrested Azad Mallik, a Pakistani national, for his alleged role in the fake passport racket. Information obtained from Mallik’s interrogation led investigators to conduct searches across areas near the Gede border in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts — both known corridors for cross-border smuggling and trafficking.
Subsequently, another suspect, Indubhushan Halder, was arrested from Shibpur in Nadia.
According to officials, the proceeds from the fake passport racket were allegedly invested in forex trading, which eventually brought investigators to Gupta’s financial network.
Broader Implications: Money Laundering and Border Security Concerns
Officials believe the ongoing probe could uncover a larger web of financial crimes, possibly connecting fake passport syndicates, forex manipulation, and cross-border hawala routes.
Sources indicated that the ED may soon expand its investigation to include banking records, overseas remittances, and immigration data to determine whether the Bangkok trips were legitimate business travel or part of systemic financial misconduct.
Key Developments at a Glance
ED investigates businessman Vinod Gupta’s 900 Bangkok trips over 10 years. Raids conducted in Kolkata, Nadia, and North 24 Parganas; key documents seized. Probe focuses on links to fake passport racket and illegal forex transactions. Arrest of Pakistani national Azad Mallik and Indian suspect Indubhushan Halder led to Gupta’s name surfacing. Investigation likely to expand to trace cross-border money flows and regulatory lapses.
