The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has formally charged 14 companies and four individuals, including prominent mining businessman Arun Saraf, in a major illegal sand mining case in West Bengal. The central probe agency alleges a massive financial fraud involving laundering of Rs 78 crore and illegal transactions worth Rs 145 crore.
Details of the Charges and Key Accused
In its voluminous chargesheet, spanning nearly 4,700 pages, the ED has detailed a complex web of alleged financial crimes. The primary accused, businessman Arun Saraf, was arrested on November 6, 2025. The agency claims Saraf, through his company GD Mining, committed "every possible form of fraud" by flouting all regulations of the West Bengal Sand (Mining, Transport, Storage and Sale) Development Corporation Limited (WBMDTCL).
The ED alleges that Saraf earned enormous profits by illegally mining and selling sand. Financial scrutiny revealed significant irregularities in his company's bank accounts. "During the 2024–25 financial year, Rs 130 crore was deposited into the company’s bank account, while Rs 103 crore was deposited from sand sales alone," stated an ED official.
Modus Operandi of the Illegal Operation
The chargesheet meticulously outlines the methods used to allegedly smuggle sand. A key tactic involved the duplication of vehicle registration numbers. Trucks legally authorised for sand extraction were required to provide unique vehicle numbers. However, the probe found that the same registration number was used on multiple trucks to transport illegally mined sand, a deception that often went undetected by the administration.
Furthermore, the system of permission slips featuring QR codes, intended to ensure transparency and traceability, was allegedly subverted through forgery. This allowed the illicit operation to mask its activities under a veil of legitimacy.
Wide-Ranging Raids and Investigation Timeline
The ED's investigation has been extensive, marked by a series of raids across West Bengal. The probe intensified with searches in Jhargram and Behala in Kolkata last September. Following Saraf's arrest in early November, the agency conducted another wave of raids as late as December, targeting 12 locations including upscale areas like Park Street, New Alipore, and Amherst Street in Kolkata.
The chargesheet names not only Arun Saraf but also three of his employees, holding them accountable for their roles in the purported scheme. The next hearing in this high-profile case is scheduled for Monday.
