Editor’s Note
This report details a major operation by India’s Enforcement Directorate targeting alleged money laundering linked to coal mafia activities. The simultaneous searches across two states underscore the scale of the investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) 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 seized cash and gold jewellery from some locations during the raids.
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.
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.