The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out a major nationwide crackdown on suspected coal pilferage networks, conducting searches at more than 40 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal. The raids were part of an ongoing probe into illegal coal mining, transportation, and storage activities that have reportedly caused massive losses to the government.
Officials stated that the searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). During the operation, investigators recovered large quantities of unaccounted cash, gold, and other valuables believed to be linked to the illegal trade.
In Jharkhand’s Dhanbad district—considered the coal capital of India—the ED focused on properties linked to coal trader LB Singh. Sixteen premises associated with him were searched, including his residence and business facilities in the Dev Bila area. According to sources, officers encountered unexpected resistance when Singh allegedly released pet dogs inside the compound to prevent officials from entering. Despite the disruption, searches continued with security support.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the agency conducted coordinated searches at 24 locations across Kolkata, Durgapur, Purulia and Howrah. Properties linked to several individuals, including Narendra Kharka, Anil Goyal, Yudhistir Ghosh and Krishna Murari Kayal, were brought under scrutiny. Residential addresses, corporate offices, coke factories, and even unauthorised toll collection points were searched as part of the investigation.
Officials described the operation as a strategic move to dismantle long-established coal smuggling syndicates operating across state borders. The focus of the raids, they said, is to track illicit financial trails, uncover beneficiaries, and gather evidence linked to illegal mining and transport networks.
The investigation is ongoing, and more action is expected in the coming days as authorities tighten their grip on illegal coal operations in the region.
