- Money transactions were being done through fake invoices and hawala network.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), taking major action in the illegal coal mining and money laundering case, has attached assets worth Rs 159.51 crore. This action has been taken under PMLA and till now the total attachment has reached Rs 482.22 crore. This entire matter is related to the large-scale illegal mining and theft of coal going on in the areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).
Investigation has revealed that this entire racket was being run by a person named Anup Maji alias Lala, who had set up an entire syndicate. This syndicate used to extract coal from the land illegally and transport it to different factories in West Bengal and carried out the entire game in such a way that everything appeared legal on paper.
What was revealed in the ED investigation?
ED investigation has also revealed that some companies were deliberately purchasing this illegal coal, which helped in converting black money into white. The attached assets include corporate bonds and alternate investment funds, which were in the names of Shyam Group related companies – Shyam Cell and Power Limited and Shyam Ferro Alloys Limited. These companies are run by Sanjay Agarwal and Brij Bhushan Agarwal. The role of some administrative people at the local level has also come to light in this entire network. With whose help the supply of illegal coal continued without any interruption.
Fake challan made for smuggling of coal openly on the roads
The most shocking method of this racket was ‘Lala Pad’, which was actually a fake transport challan system. In this, fake bills were made in the name of fake companies and truck drivers were given a note of Rs 10 or Rs 20 and were asked to click its photo along with the number plate of the truck. These photos were sent through WhatsApp to the police and officials deployed on the way, so that the trucks could be allowed to pass without any hindrance or if stopped, they could be released immediately. That is, the entire system was set up in such a way that illegal coal kept running openly on the roads.
New method adopted for money transaction
Investigation also revealed that Hawala network was being used in this entire game. Due to which black money was moved here and there without any banking record. In this also a special method was adopted, the serial number of a note was shared between the sender and receiver of money and if the same number matched, the cash transaction was completed. Neither any paper evidence was created nor any agency could get a clue about it.
After this latest action of ED, a total of assets worth Rs 482.22 crore have been attached in this case. The agency says that this investigation is still going on and efforts are being made to reach every person and company involved in this organized crime.
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