The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted a charge sheet against five individuals in a Kolkata Special Court regarding a Rs 650 crore illegal coal mining operation involving theft, transportation, sale of coal, forged documents, and extortion. Among those named in the chargesheet are Chinmoy Mondal and Kiran Khan, along with their associates. The investigation uncovered instances of bribery to government officials and local political figures to aid the syndicate’s coal-related activities.
The ED’s probe was initiated following 54 FIRs filed by various police stations in the Durgapur-Asansol region of West Bengal, based on complaints from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), CISF, and local authorities. It was revealed that Mondal, Khan, and their associates were part of an organized coal syndicate operating in the mentioned region. The syndicate engaged in illegal coal dealings, extortion of levies from coal purchasers, transporters, and D.O. holders, and the collection of illegal levies under various disguises.
The extortion rates imposed by the syndicate ranged from Rs 275 to Rs 1,500 per tonne, amounting to a significant percentage of the coal’s actual value. This illegal activity led to a substantial amount of allocated coal remaining unlifted, resulting in financial losses for ECL. The Proceeds of Crime generated by the syndicate through extortion alone over the past five years have been estimated to exceed Rs 650 crore. Searches conducted during the investigation led to the recovery of incriminating documents, digital devices, cash, bank balances, and a significant stock of coal and coke from the accused persons’ premises.
