The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out coordinated raids on the residential and commercial premises of Dhanbad-based coal trader Manoj Agrawal, intensifying its investigation into suspected money laundering linked to illegal coal operations in Jharkhand.
The searches were conducted at Agrawal’s Bhelatand residence and Dhansar office, where ED teams arrived around 7 am and immediately secured the locations before beginning a detailed examination of documents, cash flows, and digital records.
This fresh action comes just weeks after the ED conducted widespread raids on November 21 at the homes and offices of five coal traders and transporters in Dhanbad.
Those searches were based on evidence gathered during a major operation last month across nearly 18 sites in the district. During the earlier raids, officials had seized ₹2.2 crore in cash, over 120 land-related documents, jewellery, and several incriminating records connected to alleged coal mafia networks.
The ongoing inquiry focuses on illicit coal mining, theft, transport, and sale, along with irregular contracts and undisclosed financial dealings. The November 21 operation, spanning 44 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal, resulted in the recovery of cash and jewellery valued at more than ₹14 crore.
Officials also obtained ledgers, diaries, digital data, and property deeds believed to be linked to the accused entities.
According to the ED, the raids were carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting an organised syndicate that has allegedly operated for years across border districts.
In Jharkhand alone, 20 locations connected to businessmen such as Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, and Sanjay Khemka were searched. Another 24 sites in West Bengal — including homes, offices, coke plants, and alleged illegal toll points — were inspected.
Multiple FIRs filed by police in both states indicate a sprawling smuggling network transporting coal from Jharkhand into West Bengal using forged documents.
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