Kolkata- Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials have seized an estimated Rs 10 crore in cash and assets during simultaneous raids across multiple locations in West Bengal and Jharkhand in the ongoing coal smuggling investigation.
As per sources, the haul includes more than Rs 3 crore in cash and over Rs 6 crore in gold ornaments and bars.
Acting on complaints of financial irregularities and corruption related to coal exports, ED teams searched 24 sites in West Bengal along with several locations in Jharkhand.
In West Bengal, the agency raided the home and office of a major contractor linked to Coal India subsidiary Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Asansol. Residences of three businessmen associated with the coal trade—two in Salt Lake and one in Howrah’s Salap Crossing—were also searched.
Significant quantities of unaccounted money and gold were recovered from three locations in West Bengal, though the ED has not identified the exact places yet. Raids were also conducted in Purulia district.
The ED and CBI are running parallel probes into the large-scale coal smuggling racket. The latest ED action comes days after the CBI told the court that its investigation would conclude soon.
With inputs from IANS