Ranchi / Kolkata : In a sweeping operation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted coordinated raids on more than 40 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal, targeting a large-scale coal mafia network accused of illegal mining, smuggling, and money laundering, sources said.
Massive Money Laundering Probe Under PMLA
The ED action is part of a wide-ranging investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), aimed at tracing illicit financial flows linked to illegal coal extraction and coal theft networks.
Officials claim the case involves “significant coal pilferage,” with financial losses to the Indian exchequer amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees.
Key Targets: Major Players in the Coal Racket
In Jharkhand, ED teams — led by their Ranchi zonal office — raided around 18 premises linked to prominent figures such as Anil Goyal, Sanjay Udhyog, L.B. Singh, and Amar Mandal.
In West Bengal, roughly 24 sites were searched in Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata. Among those implicated are Narendra Kharka, Yudhistir Ghosh, Krishna Murari Kayal, and Anil Goyal.
Dramatic Resistance During Raids
One dramatic moment reported during the raids involved L.B. Singh, a key coal trader. According to reports, he allegedly released his pet dogs to block the ED team from entering his residence or business premises.
Coordinated Crackdown on Inter-State Coal Syndicate
Officials described the operation as a coordinated, multi-state strike against entrenched coal mafia networks, aiming to map their financial infrastructure, seize incriminating evidence, and dismantle illicit coal mining and transportation rackets.
The crackdown underscores the government’s intensified focus on organized financial crime in the coal sector, especially where illegal mining and smuggling have long plagued both Jharkhand and West Bengal.
