The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached assets worth ₹159.51 crore in connection with the ongoing investigation into illegal coal mining and pilferage in West Bengal, marking a significant escalation in the multi-crore money laundering case.
The latest action, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), brings the total value of assets attached in the case to approximately ₹482 crore so far.According to the ED, the case pertains to large-scale illegal mining and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Investigations have revealed the involvement of a well-organised syndicate allegedly led by Anup Majee, also known as “Lala,” which orchestrated the illicit extraction and transportation of coal
The latest action, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), brings the total value of assets attached in the case to approximately ₹482 crore so far.According to the ED, the case pertains to large-scale illegal mining and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Investigations have revealed the involvement of a well-organised syndicate allegedly led by Anup Majee, also known as “Lala,” which orchestrated the illicit extraction and transportation of coal.
The agency stated that the illegally mined coal was supplied to various factories, with certain companies knowingly purchasing it in cash. This, the ED said, helped in disguising the proceeds of crime as legitimate business transactions. A key mechanism uncovered in the probe is the use of fake transport documents, commonly referred to as “Lala pad,” which enabled smooth movement of illegal coal. Transporters allegedly used fabricated challans and informal verification methods to evade law enforcement checks. The attached assets primarily include financial investments such as corporate bonds and alternative investment funds held in the names of beneficiary entities. Some of these are linked to companies associated with the Shyam Group, indicating a complex financial network used to launder illicit proceeds.
The ED has also pointed to possible complicity of local officials and administrative elements in facilitating the illegal operations. The probe, which stems from an earlier CBI FIR, continues to expand, with multiple entities and individuals under scrutiny.
The case remains one of the most significant coal-related investigations in eastern India, with further attachments and arrests likely as the probe progresses.