New DeIhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is carrying out searches at 22 locations in West Bengal, which are the premises of directors and promoters of New Land Agro Industries - one of the accused companies in a ponzi scam case, officials said on Monday.

The company was booked in May 2017 on the orders of the Supreme Court, they said.

The top court had directed the CBI to probe all the companies allegedly involved in the ponzi scam that were earlier being probed by a Special Investigation Team of West Bengal, officials said.

It was alleged in the complaint that over 250 agents, who had deposited approximately Rs 1 crore each, were cheated by the promoters and directors of the agency by promising them lucrative returns.

But the maturity amounts were allegedly not paid to the gullible investors, it was alleged. The CBI raided the residence of the managing directors and other employees of the company.

Based on Supreme Court's order, on May 26, a case of cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust and forgery was filed against Dipankar Dey (chairman), and several others.

The allegation as per the complaint filed by the complainant Gopal Ray is that he invested along with his family members and his friends a total amount of Rs 1.9 crore under various schemes of the company in good faith with the hope of getting high return of the entire deposited money.

"When the complainant and other investors contacted the accused persons to get a return of their invested money, the accused persons refused to repay the money of the investors and thereby cheated the complainant and other investors and breached the trust of the investors," the agency has stated