The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday launched a major crackdown on the coal network, conducting simultaneous raids at more than 40 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal.
The operation is linked to cases of illegal coal mining, theft, and large-scale smuggling that allegedly caused hundreds of crores of rupees in revenue losses to the government. During the raids, officials recovered substantial amounts of cash and jewellery from a premises in West Bengal.
The coordinated operation was carried out by the ED’s Ranchi and Kolkata zonal offices following specific intelligence inputs. The searches targeted private residences, offices, and business establishments associated with individuals suspected of involvement in the coal-related rackets.
In Jharkhand alone, the ED’s Ranchi zonal unit conducted searches at 18 key locations. These sites are reportedly linked to several major cases of coal theft and smuggling. The individuals whose premises were searched include Anil Goyal, Sanjay Udyog, L.B. Singh, Amar Mandal, Narendra Kharka, and others.
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According to well-placed sources in the ED confirmed the raids and informed us that the agency is carrying out raids in the wake of a number of FIRs lodged by West Bengal police in connection with coal smuggling. The official said that a syndicate of coal mafia illegally extract coal from Jharkhand and its bordering area and sell it of in West Bengal. The suspected network is involved in large-scale illegal extraction and trade of coal, resulting in significant financial losses to the state exchequer.
Meanwhile, the ED’s Kolkata zonal office carried out searches at 24 locations in West Bengal. These include places tied to illegal mining activities, unlawful transportation, and illicit storage of coal. Raids were conducted in Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata, where officials seized considerable cash and jewellery during the operation.
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