The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has undertaken a significant operation, executing searches at ten locations — six in West Bengal and four in Delhi. This action is part of an ongoing investigation tied to a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case from 2020 concerning Anup Majee, also known as Lala, who is accused of leading a coal smuggling syndicate. Following the CBI’s first information report (FIR), the ED launched its own investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to the ED, the investigation has uncovered that Majee’s syndicate allegedly engaged in the theft and illegal excavation of coal from Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in West Bengal. The stolen coal was reportedly sold to various factories in districts including Bankura, Bardhaman, and Purulia, with a significant portion being supplied to the Shakambhari Group of companies.
ED officials asserted that their investigation has revealed connections with hawala operators, which are key players in money laundering and illegal financial transactions. One such operator is believed to have facilitated substantial sums of money, allegedly amounting to tens of crores, to I-PAC, a political consultancy firm linked to the case.
The current searches are based on what the ED describes as “fresh evidence” that has surfaced during the joint investigation with the CBI into the unlawful coal mining operations. ECL, which is a fully owned subsidiary of Coal India Ltd, is responsible for operations in West Bengal and Jharkhand.
Previously, both the CBI and ED have questioned Rujira Banerjee, the wife of Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, regarding her alleged connections to Majee. Abhishek Banerjee himself has also faced questioning in relation to this investigation.
The ED has previously alleged that a sum of Rs 6 crore was funneled through LTB Infraconsultancy Pvt Ltd, a firm owned by TMC youth leader Vinay Mishra and his brother Vikas Mishra, the latter of whom has been arrested. Vinay, however, reportedly remains at large, having gained citizenship in another country according to the agency’s claims.
In a prior statement delivered in April 2021, the ED mentioned that Rujira Banerjee and her sister received a “substantial amount” in London and Thailand from a key suspect, during the proceedings to extend the custody of an inspector associated with Majee.
The CBI’s FIR was reportedly founded on inspections conducted by the Vigilance Department and an ECL task force, which identified signs of extensive illegal mining and the organized transport of illegally procured coal, alongside the use of unauthorized weighbridges and heavy machinery.
The ED clarified that the recent searches were evidence-driven and not intended to target any political entity, affirming that no political party office was raided and that the operation is unrelated to any electoral processes, but reflects the agency’s commitment to combat money laundering.
The Shakambhari Group, which is at the center of these allegations, is a major player in the steel manufacturing sector in West Bengal. Led by chairman Deepak Kumar Agarwal, the group operates various steel and power units and reports significant financial growth, with turnovers increasing from Rs 5,533.69 crore in the 2023-24 financial year to Rs 6,098.39 crore in 2024-25. The company has strategically expanded through the acquisition and revitalization of distressed industrial assets, although attempts to contact Agarwal for comments went unanswered.