Enforcement Directorate Conducts Massive Raids Across West Bengal in Multi-Crore Coal Smuggling Investigation

The search operations commenced at approximately 6 am, involving over 100 officials from the Enforcement Directorate. (Representational)

Kolkata:

On Friday, the Enforcement Directorate executed simultaneous raids and search operations across multiple locations throughout West Bengal, including Kolkata, as part of a money laundering investigation targeting coal mafia operations.

More than 100 officials from the central agency participated in these searches, which began around 6 am. The operations are investigating alleged illegal mining, transportation, and storage of coal across the region.

ED officials targeted 24 different locations across Kolkata, Howrah, and the coal mining hub of Asansol in West Burdwan district. The searches covered offices and residences of coal traders, coal mining contractors, and illegal toll collection points.

According to the ED statement: "Premises being searched include those belonging to Narendra Kharka, Yudhistar Ghosh, Krishna Murari Kayal, Chinmayi Mondal, Rajkoshore Yadav and others," though the agency did not disclose their specific connections to the case.

The Enforcement Directorate also extended their operations to neighboring Jharkhand, particularly focusing on the coal-rich region of Dhanbad.

Officials indicated that the collective scale of this coal smuggling operation involves "significant" pilferage and theft, resulting in massive financial losses to the government estimated at hundreds of crores of rupees.

West Bengal's coalfields extend across four districts: Birbhum, Purulia, Paschim Bardhman, and Bankura.

In 2020, Eastern Coalfields Ltd initiated legal action against illegal coal theft by filing its first complaint with the CBI. Subsequently, 597 FIRs were registered by the ECL, resulting in the arrest and detention of 28 individuals between 2020 and 2021.