North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: ED has tightened its noose on the illegal trade of ‘Black Diamond’ spread in coal rich areas like Dhanbad, Hazaribagh and Chatra of Jharkhand. The agency investigating illegal extraction of coal and money laundering has achieved a major success after the raid. The seized properties include luxurious bungalows, land documents and huge bank balances.
Main points of ED’s action: What was seized?
This action of the Enforcement Directorate has broken the back of the coal smuggling syndicate:
Real estate worth crores: Lands and buildings worth Rs 100 crore have been attached under provisional attachment orders.
Attack on bank accounts: Bank accounts of many suspects have been frozen, in which illegal transactions worth crores of rupees were found.
Disclosure of Shell Companies: Investigation has revealed that several shell companies were formed to launder the money earned from coal theft.
How did this game of ‘coal theft’ work?
According to the investigating agency, this was not a mere petty theft but an organized crime:
Illegal Mining: Coal was extracted illegally from closed mines and government leased areas.
Fake Invoice: To make the stolen coal appear legitimate, fake e-invoices and papers were prepared in the name of fake companies.
Roots of the Syndicate: There is also a possibility of collusion of some local influential leaders, businessmen and officials in this game.
Zero tolerance against illegal mining
ED has been continuously active in Jharkhand for the last few months. After the stone mining scam of Sahibganj, now this attachment of Rs 100 crore in the coal sector has made it clear that the government and agencies are strict on corruption and illegal mining.
