Did PK Halder get support from local influentials in West Bengal?
Officials of India's Enforcement Directorate, probing the money laundering case against Proshanta Kumar Halder – better known as PK Halder – would ascertain if he took the help of local influentials to settle down in Ashoknagar, West Bengal, after sneaking in from Bangladesh.
"We are looking to check if PK Halder and his associates received support from any influential person in the (West Bengal) state who helped them get Indian passport and other identity cards on the basis of forged documents. This is not possible without the involvement of locals," sources at ED said.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The directorate will also examine if money was channelled through any influential person or any other route as he has floated some companies in India also, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting the sources.
Halder and his six associates Pritish Kumar Halder, Pranesh Kumar Halder and advisor Sukumar Mridha were arrested from West Bengal on Saturday (May 14).
Halder, former managing director of NRB Global Bank, settled in Ashoknagar, North 24-Parganas, posing as an Indian national under the name of Shibshankar Halder and acquired properties in West Bengal – introducing himself as a real estate promoter and financial expert.
So far, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has found that Halder had investments of Tk 200 crore in a five-star hotel in Cox's Bazar, 10,000 decimals of land in Narayanganj's Rupganj, four acres of land in Mymensingh, over 60 bighas of land in Purbachal, an 11-storey market on a nine-katha plot worth around Tk 40 crore, Tk 300-crore investment in resorts in Rangamati, several flats worth about Tk 20 crore and around Tk 100 crore in different bank accounts.
Under the alias "Shibshankar Halder", PK Halder forged documents including ration card in West Bengal, Indian Voter ID card, permanent account number and multi-purpose Aadhar card. He used those to buy properties in India with the laundered money.
Halder's name came up for discussions during the "anti-casino" drives in Bangladesh in 2019.
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