Daijiworld Media Network - Dhanbad
Dhanbad, Dec 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out simultaneous raids at the official and residential premises of Dhanbad-based coal trader Manoj Agrawal at Bhelatand and Dhansar, intensifying its probe into alleged money laundering linked to illegal coal trade.
ED teams reached both locations around 7 am, cordoned off the premises and began an extensive search operation. The action follows a series of raids on November 21, when ED teams from Kolkata searched the residences and offices of five coal traders and transporters in the district. Those searches were based on financial documents uncovered during a massive operation last month across 18 locations in Dhanbad.
Officials said Friday’s searches continued for several hours and are likely to extend further. Last month, the agency had also raided Dev Prabha Company — an outsourcing firm for BCCL — and premises linked to its owner LB Singh, his brother Kumbh Nath Singh, along with several other locations across Jharkhand.
During the November 21 operation, ED recovered Rs 2.2 crore in cash and seized over 120 land-related documents. Jewellery and additional cash were also taken from premises linked to the alleged coal mafia. Across 44 locations in Jharkhand and West Bengal, the agency recovered over Rs 14 crore in cash and jewellery, besides significant incriminating evidence.
According to the ED, the November raids were conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and were tied to a sprawling illegal coal mining and smuggling network operating across Jharkhand and West Bengal. Property deeds, land agreements, digital devices and account books belonging to entities allegedly controlled by the accused were also seized.
On November 21 alone, searches were conducted at 20 locations in Dhanbad and Dumka linked to individuals including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka and Amar Mondal. In West Bengal, ED teams searched 24 premises across Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah and Kolkata, including residences, offices, illegal toll booths and coke plants tied to Narendra Kharka, Krishna Murari Kayal, Yudhishthir Ghosh, Raj Kishore Yadav and others.
The crackdown stems from multiple FIRs filed in West Bengal and Jharkhand, exposing a large organised coal smuggling racket transporting coal between the states using forged documents. Diaries, registers and digital data seized earlier have backed allegations of massive illegal supply chains and the involvement of local authorities. Several registers detailing illegal cash collections and beneficiary lists have also been recovered, offering crucial insights into the network’s financial trail.
The investigation remains underway, with officials expecting more developments as scrutiny of seized materials continues.