ED Conducts Nationwide Searches Over Alleged Illegal Toll Collection

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched search operations at 14 locations across seven regions in a money-laundering investigation linked to alleged fraudulent toll collection at National Highway toll plazas.

The operation includes a premises on Shakespeare Sarani in Kolkata. According to the investigation, the case originated from a complaint filed in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, and involves allegations that unauthorised software was used to generate toll receipts outside the approved system.

What the ED Is Investigating

The agency is examining whether toll collections were diverted outside the official accounting mechanism and is seeking digital and documentary evidence, identifying possible beneficiaries and tracing the suspected proceeds of crime. The searches cover Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, the Delhi-NCR region and Kolkata.

The investigation is ongoing, and the allegations remain subject to the legal process.