Ranchi, July 29: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered hundreds of crores in suspicious financial transactions and illegal assets during raids on over 25 locations in Dhanbad district, Jharkhand. These operations, conducted on Tuesday, are part of an investigation into illegal coal mining, transportation, extortion, and money laundering. However, official details from the ED remain undisclosed as the raids continued into the evening.
Sources indicate that the ED may initiate the process of seizing assets valued at over ₹150 crores. The raids were carried out early Tuesday morning with the assistance of central security forces, targeting areas including Dhanbad, Jharia, Loyabad, Kendua, Mahuda, and Barwadih.
This action is based on four separate Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIR) filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), focusing on illegal coal mining and associated money laundering networks.
The ED’s operations primarily targeted coal traders L.B. Singh, Anil Goyal, and their associates. Among those searched were Ganesh Yadav, Pappu Mandal, Rohit Yadav, Harendra Chauhan, Madho Singh, Mahendra Pratap, Imtiaz Ali, Rajnikant Sharma, and several others, some of whom have connections to various political parties.
During the searches, the ED examined bank account documents, digital records, papers related to benami properties, mobile phones, laptops, and other electronic devices. Officials have seized several important financial documents as well.
Preliminary findings suggest a large network of investments, real estate, and suspicious financial transactions. There were reports of local protests at some locations, but the search operations continued under the protection of security forces.
As of late evening, the ED had not released any official details regarding seizures or recoveries. Further legal action will be taken after analyzing all documents and digital evidence. The investigative agency is also probing into which sectors and properties the money earned from illegal coal operations has been invested.
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