The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 16 locations in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, freezing a bank balance of Rs 1.34 crore and seizing Rs 38.43 lakh cash, a BMW, and seven other vehicles. The operations were related to illegal sand mining activities. The ED’s Nagpur Sub-Zonal Office conducted the searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Based on offenses registered under various sections of the IPC, an investigation was initiated against individuals involved in alleged sand mining in Nagpur and Bhandra Districts of Maharashtra. The Proceeds of Crime (POC) from these illegal activities are estimated to exceed Rs 30 crore, according to the ED. The search operation resulted in the seizure of unaccounted cash, incriminating documents, and digital devices containing evidence of illegal sand mining.
The seized items included cash, property papers, digital devices, and vehicles like SUVs, JCB machines, and Pokland machines. The accused individuals were reportedly running an organized illegal sand mining operation using forged Electronic Transit Permits. Despite the closure of sand ghats in Nagpur, illegal mining activities were being carried out with the collusion of transporters. The ED revealed that a syndicate was fabricating Electronic Transit Permits and selling them to sand mafia operators in Nagpur.
