IIT Patna geospatial report backs ₹131 cr sand scam, ED acts

A detailed geospatial analysis carried out by the Indian Institute of Technology Patna has become a cornerstone of the Enforcement Directorate’s case against illegal sand mining in Bihar’s Banka district. The report, commissioned by the ED on 1 October 2024, examined river sand banks using satellite imagery and on‑ground surveys.

The study concluded that Mahadev Enclave Private Limited, operated by the Chandak family of Rajasthan, mined sand in violation of state regulations, with an estimated monetary loss exceeding ₹131 crore for the period 2015‑16 to 2022‑23. The ED forwarded this evidence to the Managing Director of Bihar State Mining Corporation Ltd under PMLA Section 66(2).

Armed with this technical proof, the ED has intensified raids across eight sites—including Banka, Patna, Delhi, four spots in Gangnanagar and one in Jaipur—searching for documents, financial records and other material that could link the sand extraction to money‑laundering activities.