Crackdown on coal mafia: ED raids over 40 locations in Jharkhand, West Bengal in money-laundering probe; gold jewellery, cash seized | Ranchi News

The Enforcement Directorate conducted extensive searches at over 40 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal as part of a money laundering probe into coal mafia operations. The investigation targets alleged coal theft, pilferage, and illegal mining, with significant financial losses to the government suspected.

RANCHI/KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate launched extensive searches across more than 40 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal on Friday as part of a coordinated investigation into money laundering involving coal mafia operations in both states.ED teams also seized some cash and gold jewellery from some location.The agency conducted searches at approximately 18 locations in Jharkhand, targeting entities including Anil Goyal, Sanjay Udhyog, L B Singh, and Amar Mandal in connection with coal theft and smuggling operations.

Official sources indicate the case involves substantial coal pilferage and theft, causing significant financial losses to the government amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees, according to news agency PTI.In West Bengal, the agency searched around 24 premises across Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata districts, focusing on alleged illegal mining, transportation, and storage of coal.The operations were conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), targeting organized coal theft networks operating across the two states.