Thunderous raids by the Enforcement Directorate shook West Bengal and Delhi today, zeroing in on a massive coal smuggling and hawala empire. The sweeping action underscores New Delhi’s resolve to dismantle illicit trade rackets plaguing India’s energy sector.
The investigation exposes a well-oiled operation diverting coal from legal supply chains into smuggling routes. Proceeds funneled through underground hawala networks reportedly funded lavish lifestyles and political campaigns, according to preliminary findings.
ED sleuths descended on over a dozen sites, including warehouses in Burdwan district and trading hubs in Delhi. Incriminating ledgers, unaccounted cash stacks exceeding Rs 5 crore, and encrypted laptops were among the recoveries.
At the heart of the controversy: allegations that Mamata Banerjee’s administration actively sabotaged the probe. ED officials allege TMC loyalists intimidated witnesses and withheld crucial mining department files. This purported interference has prompted calls for a high-level judicial oversight.
Coal smuggling has long been a scourge in Bengal, with annual losses to the exchequer running into thousands of crores. Today’s raids could be the breakthrough needed to map the entire syndicate, from pithead thieves to city kingpins.
Political tempers are flaring. BJP leaders hailed the ED moves as a blow to ‘TMC’s protection racket,’ while Banerjee countered with charges of federal overreach. With forensic audits underway, the scandal threatens to dominate headlines ahead of key electoral battles.
