ED Cracks Down on West Bengal's Illegal Coal Empire: Assets Worth ₹159 Crore Seized

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its crackdown on illegal coal mining operations in West Bengal by provisionally attaching assets valued at ₹159.51 crore. This latest enforcement action targets a syndicate headed by Anup Majee, alias 'Lala', and raises the total value of seized assets in the case to an astonishing ₹482.22 crore.

The investigation reveals a complex web of financial deceit, encompassing fake tax invoices, a WhatsApp-based bribery mechanism, and alleged fund laundering via established political consultancy firms and industrial entities. Anup Majee's syndicate allegedly operated these illegal mining schemes, selling the pilfered coal to companies in West Bengal, thereby aiding in sanitizing and legitimizing illicit proceeds.

The provisionally attached assets span movable financial instruments, including corporate bonds and alternative investment funds, linked to firms such as Shyam Sel and Power Limited and Shyam Ferro Alloys Limited, part of the Shyam Group overseen by Sanjay Agarwal and Brij Bhushan Agarwal. The syndicate reportedly managed extensive illicit coal excavation, distributing it across several West Bengal factories with facilitation from local administrative officials.

A critical element of their operation involved the production of false transport challans, referred to as the 'Lala pad', alongside minor currency notes given to transporters. These notes were photographed beside vehicle number plates and sent via WhatsApp to syndicate operators, ensuring smooth passage past law enforcement through bribery or immediate release upon interception.

Furthermore, the investigation disclosed the use of covert hawala networks for transferring illicit proceeds, circumventing formal banking systems. Transactions were authenticated through unique identifiers such as currency note serial numbers exchanged between parties. With the recent asset attachment, the total seized assets in this case now stand at ₹482.22 crore.