Acting against individuals involved in illegal sand and blackstone mining, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at over 25 locations in Odisha’s Ganjam district. The ED seized Rs 2.63 crore in cash and incriminating documents during the operation on January 16 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Contractors and proprietors linked to country liquor operations were among those targeted by the ED.
The search operation uncovered cash amounting to Rs 2.63 crore, along with incriminating documents, property records, and agreements related to power and mining leases. Additionally, high-end benami vehicles acquired through criminal proceeds were discovered. The premises searched were associated with brokers, syndicates with criminal backgrounds, and other business partners.
The ED’s investigation was initiated based on FIRs against sand syndicates involved in illegal mining and transportation of minor minerals in Ganjam district. Members of these syndicates faced charges including murder, kidnapping, assault, forgery, cheating, and extortion. The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) highlighted widespread illegal mining along riverbeds in Ganjam district, leading to significant losses for the government.
Illegal mining operations involved obtaining mining leases unlawfully in the names of different leaseholders, allowing the syndicate to extract more minerals than permitted. The minerals obtained through unauthorized mining were often traded in the grey market through cash transactions. Proceeds from these illegal activities were funneled through various businesses, including the country liquor trade, resulting in substantial unaccounted losses for the government.
