NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday conducted searches at five locations in Kolkata as part of an investigation into the purchase of an Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft and an Agusta 109 SP helicopter by Kolkata-based Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd. The agency is also probing allegations that the company received around ₹160 crore from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
According to ED sources, Carewell Aviation, incorporated in September 2021 after TMC secured a third consecutive term in West Bengal, purchased the aircraft and helicopter for approximately ₹112 crore. The company later leased both to TMC while allegedly receiving funds from the party between April 2023 and June 2026.
The searches were carried out in connection with suspected financial irregularities, including the alleged unlawful collection and routing of funds through multiple bank accounts. ED officials said the premises searched belonged to the Carewell group of companies.
A senior ED official claimed that nearly ₹160 crore was transferred from TMC accounts to Carewell Aviation India Pvt Ltd and a related entity during the period under investigation. Of this, ₹82.9 crore was allegedly routed by Carewell Aviation to another newly incorporated affiliate.
The agency’s preliminary investigation suggests that funds transferred to the related entity were used to purchase the Embraer Legacy 600, which investigators suspect was primarily used by a senior TMC leader. The company also acquired an Agusta 109 SP helicopter, with the ED examining possible foreign funding linked to the purchase. However, officials said most of the funds used for the acquisitions appear to have originated from TMC accounts.
“The Embraer Legacy aircraft and the Agusta helicopter were leased back to TMC, despite being allegedly purchased using funds received from the party,” an ED source said.
Carewell Aviation did not respond to requests for comment. TMC had not issued an official response at the time of publication.
