The Real Estate Radar: ED Intensifies Probe into Merlin Group’s Alleged ₹600-Crore Land Scam

The Kolkata real estate sector has been sent into a flurry as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) ramps up its investigation into one of the city’s most prominent developers, the Merlin Group. On April 17, 2026, the agency conducted a fresh round of raids across multiple locations, marking a significant escalation in a money laundering probe that has already seen the involvement of the Income Tax (I-T) Department and senior political figures.

The Context: Fresh Raids and Widening Scrutiny

Following an initial wave of searches on April 8, the ED’s latest action targeted four to five locations across Kolkata and the North 24 Parganas district. These searches, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), are part of a deeper look into the financial dealings of Merlin Projects Limited and its promoters, Sushil Mohta and Saket Mohta.

The timing of these raids is particularly noteworthy, occurring just days before the West Bengal Assembly elections. The investigation has also branched out to include premises linked to TMC MLA Debasish Kumar, who is currently under the scanner of the I-T department for alleged links to the same land deals.

The Core Allegations: Forgery and Land Grabbing

At the heart of the ED’s case is a sophisticated "systematic modus operandi" involving the fabrication of property titles. The agency alleges that the Merlin Group used forged documents, including a purported judicial compromise decree from 1959, to claim ownership of high-value land parcels.

Key points of the allegation include:

• Fabricated Title Chains: Using forged powers of attorney to establish a "false" chain of ownership.

• Investor Fraud: Projecting themselves as lawful owners to induce the public to invest hundreds of crores into large-scale residential projects.

• Money Laundering: Suspected siphoning of public funds, with investigators exploring potential transfers of "proceeds of crime" to offshore accounts.

Spotlight on ‘Merlin Niyasa’

The investigation focuses heavily on a 3.63-acre plot in Anandapur, where the group is developing a ₹600-crore residential project named "Merlin Niyasa." The case stems from an FIR filed in January by a local resident, Mohan Chandra Mondal, who claims to hold the legitimate title to the land dating back to 1943. According to the complaint, the documents used by the developers to justify construction were "valuable securities" created through forgery—an allegation the ED is now pursuing as a primary source of money laundering.

The Company’s Defense

In response to the raids, the Merlin Group has maintained a stance of transparency and cooperation. A spokesperson for the group stated that they are a law-abiding organization and that all transactions related to the Merlin Niyasa project were executed under valid and lawful agreements.

Furthermore, the company highlighted that various judicial forums, including the Supreme Court, have previously adjudicated in favor of the current landowners regarding the project’s title.

What This Means for the Real Estate Market

This investigation serves as a stark reminder of the regulatory risks inherent in high-value real estate development. For investors and homebuyers, it underscores the critical importance of rigorous title verification and the potential for "clean" projects to become entangled in long-running legal disputes.

As the ED continues to scrutinize financial documents and trace the flow of funds, the outcome of this probe could have lasting implications for the Merlin Group’s reputation and the broader governance standards within the Kolkata property market.