Suresh ‘Sukha’ Patel’s Monopoly in Scrap Trade Exposed by Enforcement Directorate

The Enforcement Directorate’s latest operation has laid bare the dominance of Suresh Jagubhai Patel—dubbed “Sukha”—over the scrap‑trading and transport sector in Daman, Gujarat.

According to the agency, Patel enjoyed an unchallenged hold on the market by threatening rival traders, employing muscle power and exploiting his criminal reputation to eliminate competition.

The ED’s action on 8 September 2026 attached seventeen properties worth ₹6.52 crore under the PMLA, marking a significant escalation after earlier raids that seized ₹2.90 crore in cash and bank balances.

The move follows a prosecution complaint filed on 27 November 2024, which named Patel, his aide Mahesh Nanda and several others as accused in a case that has already seen assets worth ₹4.42 crore frozen.