The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear the Enforcement Directorate's plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to alleged West Bengal coal smuggling kingpin Anup Majee. The court issued a notice to Majee but observed that the agency was dragging its feet as the investigation has been ongoing for the last six years.
Court Proceedings
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta issued notice on the ED's plea challenging a Delhi High Court order granting anticipatory bail to Majee in June last year. However, the bench rejected the ED's request for an early hearing and listed the case for September. Until then, Majee will continue to enjoy the protection of bail.
Arguments by ED
Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the ED, argued that Majee was earlier absconding in the case and is the kingpin, with Rs 2,700 crore of national resources plundered. He also stated that Majee's accountant remains absconding.
Defense Counter
Senior advocate Siddhartha Dave, representing Majee, countered that his client has cooperated with the investigation and appeared 23 times before the agency, including 13 times when there was no protection from arrest.
Background of the Case
The bench was initially not inclined to entertain the ED's plea but passed an order in favor of the agency after the ASG insisted on a hearing. Anup Majee, alias Lala, is considered the prime accused in a money laundering investigation initiated by the ED in 2020 based on a CBI FIR. He is believed to be key to unraveling the money trail of alleged payoffs exceeding Rs 1,300 crore made to senior Trinamool Congress functionaries during 2020-21.
Recovered Diary
During searches on premises linked to Majee and his associates, the ED recovered a diary from Niraj Singh, Majee's accountant, which allegedly contained coded records of payoffs worth Rs 1,350 crore. According to sources, one entry referred to a person named Pankaj da, who was paid in installments of Rs 10 crore each starting from March 2020. Other entries mentioned Bankura IC, who took deliveries of cash cartons allegedly on behalf of TMC leaders. Bankura police station in-charge Ashok Mishra was arrested by the ED on April 4, 2021.
