ED arrests former Trinamool Minority cell leader Ajmal Siddiqui in long-running human trafficking racket

The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday arrested Ajmal Siddiqui, former leader of the Trinamool Minority Cell, in connection with a long-running human trafficking racket. Siddiqui was questioned for several hours after appearing at the CGO Complex on Tuesday, and officials claimed his responses were inconsistent. A preliminary probe into his bank accounts also revealed several suspicious transactions, prompting the agency to take him into custody.

According to the ED, Siddiqui is suspected to have played an active role in a trafficking network operating for years, alongside alleged involvement in illegal financial movements linked to the racket. Investigators have now initiated a forensic examination of his bank accounts, property papers and electronic devices to trace the money trail and identify other associates.

The arrest follows large-scale raids on November 7, during which the ED searched multiple locations in Kolkata linked to the key accused—Jagjit Singh, Ajmal Siddiqui, Vishnu Mundhra and their associates. Officials seized over ₹1 crore in cash, numerous electronic devices and two luxury cars during the operation, which they say has significantly advanced the investigation.

The human trafficking case dates back to a 2015 raid in Baguihati, where girls from poor families across several states were allegedly lured to Kolkata with job promises but forced into dancing at pubs and subjected to sexual exploitation. Sources now suggest that a civil engineer from Nagirbazar and three Salt Lake-based businessmen are also part of the network, and their premises were recently searched as the investigation widens.