ED Cracks Down on Massive Illegal Coal Mining Syndicate in West Bengal, Makes Two Arrests
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday executed a significant arrest operation, apprehending two key individuals—Chinmay Mandal and Kiran Khan—for their alleged deep involvement in a sprawling illegal coal mining, transportation, and extortion network operating within the Asansol-Durgapur industrial belt of West Bengal.
Unraveling a Rs 170 Crore Racket Over Eight Years
Investigations by the federal agency have meticulously traced illicit financial flows, revealing that the arrested duo amassed a staggering sum of approximately Rs 170 crore over an eight-year period. This colossal amount was allegedly accumulated through a systematic and multi-faceted illegal operation targeting the region's coal industry.
ED officials stated that the two individuals were operating under the directives of Anup Maji, alias Lala, who is identified as the prime suspect in the overarching illegal coal mining case. During intensive interrogation sessions, investigators encountered multiple discrepancies and inconsistencies in the statements provided by Mandal and Khan, further deepening suspicions about their activities.
Court Proceedings and Custody Details
Following their arrest, Chinmay Mandal and Kiran Khan were promptly produced before the special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata on Tuesday. The court, after hearing the arguments presented by ED lawyer Bhaskar Prasad Banerjee, remanded both accused into ED custody for a period of 10 days to facilitate further questioning and evidence collection.
The "Goonda Tax" Extortion Mechanism
The ED's probe, which is grounded on more than 50 First Information Reports (FIRs) originally filed by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and officials from Eastern Coalfields Limited, has uncovered a brazen extortion scheme. The syndicate allegedly imposed an illegal levy, colloquially termed a "goonda tax", on every truck transporting legally extracted coal from the region.
This coerced payment was then funneled into the syndicate's network and subsequently distributed among various accomplices. The agency is actively expanding its investigation to identify and examine the potential involvement of other individuals connected to this lucrative racket.
Profiles of the Accused and Recent Raids
While Chinmay Mandal was reportedly a close associate of prime suspect Anup Maji (Lala), Kiran Khan's trajectory is noted as particularly remarkable. Officials indicate that Khan allegedly rose through the ranks from being a small-scale illegal coal trader to establishing himself as a businessman within this illicit ecosystem.
In a related development earlier this month, ED teams conducted searches at the premises linked to Mandal and Khan. These operations led to the recovery of undisclosed amounts of cash and jewellery, believed to be proceeds of the illegal activities. Additionally, the agency searched the residence of Manoranjan Mondal, the Officer-in-Charge of Budbud Police Station, as part of the same investigation.
Financial Breakdown and Police Transfer
ED sources provided a detailed financial breakdown, alleging that between 2018 and 2026, Chinmay Mandal alone collected around Rs 68 crore, while Kiran Khan amassed nearly Rs 100 crore. These funds were purportedly generated through a series of illegal operations across the Asansol-Durgapur colliery areas.
In a separate administrative action connected to the case, Budbud Police Station's Officer-in-Charge, Manoranjan Mandal, who had been summoned by the ED for questioning regarding the illegal coal mining scandal, was transferred on Tuesday. He has been reassigned to his earlier posting at the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissionerate, with Avijit Singha Roy taking over the charge at Budbud Police Station.
