The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched one of its largest coordinated crackdowns against illegal coal networks operating across Jharkhand and West Bengal. The operation, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targets influential coal mining, transportation and storage syndicates allegedly responsible for massive financial losses to the exchequer.
The high-intensity searches began early Friday and continued through the day, involving multiple ED teams deployed from regional and zonal offices.
40+ Sites Under Scanner
According to official sources, more than 40 premises linked to coal traders, transporters, and suspected financiers are under search.
Jharkhand: 18 Locations Raided
The raids in Jharkhand are focused around mining belts and business hubs, including premises connected to:
- Anil Goyal
- Sanjay Udhyog
- LB Singh
- Amar Mandal
These individuals are allegedly linked to unaccounted coal extraction, illegal supply chains, and suspected money laundering routes.
West Bengal: 24 Premises Raided
In West Bengal, the focus areas include:
- Durgapur
- Purulia
- Howrah
- Kolkata
Raids are being conducted at properties linked to:
- Narendra Kharka
- Yudhistir Ghosh
- Krishna Murari Kayal
- Other suspected coal operators and financiers
ED officials confirm that documents, digital evidence, cash trails, property links, and transport records are being examined during the searches.
Coal Theft Probe Connected to Crores in Losses
Officials involved in the investigation say the crackdown is part of a larger probe into illegal coal mining and theft that has allegedly caused losses worth hundreds of crores to government agencies, including Coal India subsidiaries.
Investigators believe that the illegal mining network operates through:
- Unauthorized coal extraction from abandoned or restricted mines
- Underground transport routes
- Black-market supply chains feeding industries
- Money laundering through shell companies and benami assets
The suspected syndicates reportedly operated with layered financial structures designed to evade detection.
Part of Ongoing PMLA Action
The latest crackdown is not an isolated event. For nearly two years, federal agencies have been tracking the coal trade ecosystem in the eastern mineral belt, particularly operations along the Asansol-Dhanbad corridor, considered a hotspot of illegal extraction.
The ED has already made arrests and seized assets in previous phases of the investigation. Today’s action marks the widest geographical spread in the ongoing crackdown.
No Official Statement Yet
While ED teams remain deployed on ground, a formal statement from the agency is awaited. Sources indicate that the data collected today will determine the next phase, which may include detentions, arrests, and attachment of properties.
The Enforcement Directorate’s sweeping raids across Jharkhand and West Bengal mark a major escalation in the investigation against illegal coal networks in eastern India. With more than 40 locations under search and high-profile names connected to the probe, the crackdown signals a strong push toward dismantling syndicates that have allegedly operated unchecked for years.
As the operation continues, more updates are expected in the coming hours.