Illegal Coal Mining Case: CBI Conducts Raids at Premises of Anup Majhi’s Business Associates in Bengal

Authorities of the CBI’s anti-corruption branch on Wednesday robbed the properties of a number of businessmen thought to be close associates of Anup Majhi alias Lala, the alleged kingpin of the prohibited coal trading racket in the Asansol-Ranigunj belt of West Bengal, sources in the agency said. The authorities conducted search operations at 10 places, consisting of workplaces and houses of those entrepreneurs, sources said.

The CBI is of the view that thousands of crores of rupees have been included in the scam, occurring out of illegal mining from deserted mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), and part of the crime profits was negotiated through the hawala path, for which the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has joined the probe. The ED on Monday raided 12 properties across West Bengal – houses and offices of people who are considered near Majhi.

The CBI on November 28 last year performed an enormous search operation at 45 locations in 4 states after signing up a case versus Manjhi who was thought to be acting in collusion with 2 basic supervisors and 3 security personnel of the ECL. The searches were spread out across West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The CBI has actually likewise provided a look-out notification against Majhi to establish his whereabouts as his interrogation is vital for the probe.