A state government commission investigating institutional corruption raided a roadside eatery along Kolkata’s EM Bypass on Friday over allegations that wetlands and a natural drainage canal were filled to create space for commercial construction, according to a report by Times of India – Kolkata.
The operation was carried out by commission officials accompanied by a large contingent of Kolkata Police. Investigators inspected the dhaba and the surrounding commercial area, while a parallel inquiry was conducted at an adjacent bakery to examine structural plans and land-boundary demarcations.
The probe followed a complaint filed in August last year by Manojkumar Barman, who alleged that the eatery had been built after systematically filling ecologically sensitive wetlands. The complaint also alleged that a natural drainage canal was unlawfully filled to clear land for the commercial establishment.
“ The inquiry was initiated following a specific petition regarding wetland filling along EM Bypass. During Friday’s joint operation, we inspected the premises, examined physical boundaries, and initiated a thorough review of the surrounding land parcels,” an official associated with the probe was quoted as saying.
According to the report, preliminary findings indicate alleged irregularities in land records, including possible tampering or falsification to reclassify waterbodies as commercial property. Investigators estimate that about four cottahs of wetland may have been encroached upon for the construction.
The eatery is reportedly linked to a former Trinamool Congress municipal representative. The commission is examining whether local administrative influence was used to bypass environmental clearances or alter land mutation certificates. The political association is part of the inquiry and does not, by itself, establish wrongdoing.
The case places Kolkata’s wetland and drainage systems at the centre of a broader land-governance investigation. Wetlands and canals perform a critical urban function by holding and moving stormwater, making the verification of land boundaries and waterbody classifications relevant not only to ownership disputes but also to flood management and municipal planning.
Commission officials are cross-referencing land revenue records, municipal sanction plans and historical satellite imagery to establish how the site changed over time. The comparison is expected to help investigators determine whether the land was classified or altered before construction and whether the necessary permissions were obtained.
Further statements are expected to be recorded as the inquiry progresses. The commission is also examining whether legal action can be taken under applicable environmental and anti-corruption laws after the documentary and physical evidence is reviewed.
