The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday executed coordinated searches at ten locations across India, intensifying its probe into a massive coal smuggling and money laundering network. The raids, spanning six premises in West Bengal and four in Delhi, are linked to a 2020 CBI case against alleged kingpin Anup Majee, alias Lala.
The Coal Smuggling Syndicate and Hawala Trail
According to the central agency, the investigation has exposed a well-organized syndicate led by Anup Majee. This group allegedly stole and illegally excavated coal from the leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL), a subsidiary of Coal India, in West Bengal. The illicit coal was then sold to factories in districts including Bankura, Bardhaman, and Purulia.
A significant portion of this illegally mined coal was reportedly sold to the Shakambhari Group of companies, a major integrated steel manufacturer in West Bengal. The ED's probe has now traced the proceeds of this crime through complex financial channels.
The agency claims to have established concrete links to hawala operators who layered the smuggling money. "One such operator, allegedly involved in layering the proceeds of crime from coal smuggling, had facilitated transactions of tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC, the political consultancy firm," an ED official stated. The agency alleges I-PAC is one of the entities connected to this hawala money.
Political Connections and Previous Allegations
This case has previously touched high-profile political figures. Both the CBI and ED have questioned Rujira Banerjee, the wife of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, alleging her links with kingpin Anup Majee. Abhishek Banerjee himself has also been questioned in connection with the probe.
In earlier submissions, the ED had alleged that Rs 6 crore in cash was routed through LTB Infraconsultancy Pvt Ltd, a company owned by TMC youth leader Vinay Mishra and his brother Vikas Mishra. While Vikas has been arrested, Vinay is alleged to be absconding and has acquired citizenship of another country.
Furthermore, in April 2021, the ED told a special court that Rujira Banerjee and her sister were paid a "substantial amount" in London and Thailand by a key accused. This claim was made during proceedings against Ashok Kumar Mishra, then inspector-in-charge of Bankura police station, who was described as a close associate of Majee. The agency said Mishra claimed the transactions were made at Vinay Mishra's behest with funds sourced from Majee.
The Basis of the Case and ED's Stance
The foundation of the case is a CBI FIR registered in 2020, based on inspections by the ECL's Vigilance Department and a task force. They found evidence of "extensive illegal mining" and organized transportation of coal from ECL areas, involving illegal weighbridges and heavy machinery. The ED later registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on this FIR.
ED sources indicated the latest searches were based on "fresh evidence" emerging from the joint CBI-ED probe into illegal coal mining and pilferage. In its official statement, the ED emphasized that the searches were "evidence-based" and "not targeted at any political establishment." The agency clarified that no political party office was searched and the action was part of a regular crackdown on money laundering, unrelated to any elections.
The Shakambhari Group, headed by Deepak Kumar Agarwal, reported a turnover rising from Rs 5,533.69 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 6,098.39 crore in 2024-25. The group, which is not publicly listed, has expanded by acquiring stressed assets through the NCLT. Agarwal was unavailable for comment.
