Ranchi, Nov. 22 -- The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has intensified its crackdown on illegal coal operations spanning Jharkhand and West Bengal, conducting coordinated search operations at 44 locations on November 21.
The large-scale raids were carried out under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting an organised network allegedly involved in illegal mining, theft, transportation, storage and sale of coal.
Of the 44 premises searched, 20 locations were in Jharkhand, primarily in Dhanbad and Dumka, regions considered hotspots for illegal coal activity. These sites were linked to individuals identified as key operatives in the coal syndicate, including Lal Bahadur Singh, Anil Goyal, Sanjay Khemka, Am...