The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started investigation under PMLA 2002 in the illegal coal mining case on the basis of an FIR registered in the year 2020. Investigation revealed that coal was being illegally excavated and stolen from the lease area of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). All this was done by criminal elements in connivance with some officials of ECL, CISF, Indian Railways and other concerned departments.
ED investigation also revealed that Anup Maji was the mastermind of this entire syndicate, which was doing illegal coal mining and transportation of stolen coal in the ECL area. Anup Maji was misappropriating coal from the lease area of ECL with the connivance of government employees. Investigation also found that 16 cases (FIRs) related to illegal coal digging and theft were registered against Anup Maji between 2000 and 2015, in which chargesheet was also filed.
Despite this, due to his influence and protection no concrete action was taken by the local police. However, in the year 2020, CBI registered a new case in the matter of coal theft and smuggling, after which the investigation was taken forward. ED's investigation also revealed that Anup Maji had deployed employees to keep track of the stolen coal sent to different companies.
During the investigation, it came to light that coal worth about Rs 2,742.32 crore (including tax and royalty) was misappropriated from the lease area of ECL through illegal mining and theft. Apart from this, ED conducted searches and seizures at 46 locations under Section 17 of PMLA between January and April 2021. During these raids, it came to light that Anup Maji's accountant kept complete records of the criminal proceeds earned from illegal coal mining.
ED also said that Gurupada Maji delivered proceeds of crime (POC) of Rs 89.11 crore through associates of Anup Maji during the year 2017 to 2020, while Jaydev Mandal delivered POC of Rs 58.05 crore during the same period.
