The Enforcement Directorate has searched a house in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district as part of an investigation reportedly linked to a major cyber-fraud case originating in Punjab.
The search was carried out at a residence in Kabilpur under Sagardighi police station. Local reporting identified the person linked to the premises as Sohail Sheikh and said ED officials examined documents and other material while central forces secured the area.
The agency has not yet publicly disclosed what, if anything, was seized during the search.
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The Murshidabad operation is being linked by local sources to an online fraud investigation that began in Punjab.
The Punjab case involves allegations of an investment and wealth-management fraud worth more than ₹8 crore.
In December 2025, retired Punjab Police officer Amar Singh Chahal alleged in a note that cybercriminals posing as financial advisers had cheated him of about ₹8.10 crore. The alleged fraud involved online investment pitches and supposed wealth-management services.
Punjab Police later registered a case and began examining the financial trail associated with the alleged scam.
The ED’s involvement would indicate that investigators are now examining whether proceeds of the alleged cyber fraud were moved, layered or laundered through accounts and individuals outside Punjab.
Kabilpur residence searched for several hours
The search in Murshidabad began on Monday morning.
According to local reporting, a small ED team reached the Kabilpur residence under protection of central forces and searched the premises for several hours.
Officials examined documents and other material available at the house.
The ED has not yet publicly confirmed whether electronic devices, cash, bank records or other evidence were seized.
No arrest or detention was immediately reported from the Kabilpur search.
Person linked to house reportedly not present
Local reports say the person associated with the premises was not present during the operation.
Officials questioned family members and people connected to the house while trying to gather information relevant to the wider investigation.
The available reporting does not establish how directly the person searched is allegedly connected to the Punjab fraud.
That distinction is important.
An ED search does not by itself establish criminal liability. Investigators still have to show what financial or operational role, if any, a person played in moving or handling alleged proceeds of crime.
Searches reportedly extended beyond Murshidabad
The enforcement action was not limited to Kabilpur.
Your source material says searches were also carried out at locations in Malda and Kolkata linked to the same investigation.
If confirmed, the multi-location action would suggest that investigators are examining a broader network rather than a single individual.
Such searches are typically used to trace bank accounts, digital devices, communications and documents that can establish how money moved between different people or entities.
The ED generally becomes involved when investigators suspect that proceeds generated from an underlying criminal offence were subsequently concealed, transferred or projected as legitimate funds.
Punjab case began with fake investment promises
The alleged Punjab fraud involved people posing as wealth-management or investment professionals.
Chahal reportedly said he was added to WhatsApp and Telegram-based investment groups and persuaded to transfer large sums after being shown supposed returns and professional-looking trading information.
The alleged fraudsters then demanded additional fees and taxes when he attempted to withdraw his money.
The case became widely reported after Chahal allegedly attempted suicide in December 2025 and left a detailed note describing the financial losses.
He survived and was treated in hospital.
The financial trail from that case has since remained under investigation.
Why ED involvement matters
Cyber-fraud investigations often begin with local police tracing the bank accounts into which a victim transferred money.
But large fraud networks can move those funds rapidly across multiple states.
Money may pass through mule accounts, shell companies, cash withdrawals or other financial channels before reaching the people running the scheme.
If investigators suspect that criminal proceeds were deliberately layered or concealed, the Enforcement Directorate can examine the matter under anti-money-laundering law.
That is why a fraud originating in Punjab can eventually lead investigators to properties and account holders in West Bengal.
Financial trail likely to be central
The main question now is whether the Murshidabad, Malda and Kolkata searches reveal links between local accounts or individuals and the alleged ₹8 crore Punjab fraud.
Investigators are likely to examine bank transactions, mobile-phone records, communications and any corporate or financial documents recovered during the searches.
They may also look at whether money was moved through accounts held in the names of other people.
The current public record, however, remains limited.
The ED has not released a detailed seizure memo or formal statement naming all people whose premises were searched.
For that reason, claims about specific roles should remain attributed to investigative sources until the agency provides further detail.
What this means for you: Large cyber-fraud cases can extend far beyond the state where the victim first reports the crime. Investigators often follow the money across multiple bank accounts and states, which means people who knowingly allow their accounts to be used for suspicious transfers can become part of a wider money-laundering probe.
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