About Us

The origin of Directorate of Economic Offences (DEO) can be traced to the constitution of Economic Offences Investigation Cell under the Finance Department of the Government of West Bengal on 29.1.2004 to undertake investigation of economic offences and related activities. It was mandated to investigate cases relating to offences by Non Banking Financial Companies, Unincorporated bodies and also to deal with matters relating to evasion of taxes under various State Acts and Rules administered by the Finance Department and the related malpractices excepting the State Acts for which the Bureau of Investigation, West Bengal was tasked.

Later on, The West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2013 was published in the Kolkata Gazette dt. 14.5.2015. Concurrently, the above Cell was sought to be strengthened through creation of a separate Directorate of Economic Offences under the Home & Hill Affairs Department and merging the above Cell in the Directorate.

Vide notification dt. 13.6.2016, under “Allocation of business among the departments,” matters pertaining to the West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act were transferred under the Home Department. On 14.7.2016, the Directorate of Economic Offences was also transferred under the Home Department. The head of the organisation was redesignated as “Director of Economic Offences, West Bengal” and was declared as the “Competent Authority” under the above Act.

Functions

The primary focus of DEO is enforcement and implementation of provisions under the West Bengal Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2013.