ED raids 25 locations in Dhanbad over illegal coal mining and transport case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated widespread raids across Dhanbad on Tuesday morning targeting illegal coal mining and transport operations. Over 25 dedicated teams from the agency simultaneously raided premises linked to key figures in the coal business and their associates. The ongoing searches encompass high-profile individuals, including LB Singh, Anil Goyal, Ganesh Yadav, Pappu Mandal, Anup Chauhan, Harendra Chauhan, and former assembly candidate Rohit Yadav.

The federal agency launched the investigation after registering four separate Enforcement Case Information Reports (ECIRs) to probe allegations of money laundering and illegal coal trade. Officials suspect that the accused individuals amassed substantial illegal assets through unlawful coal extraction, transportation, and storage networks. Investigation teams are currently examining financial records and property documents at the designated locations.

This operation follows previous enforcement actions against the same syndicate, including searches conducted on November 21, 2025, across 20 locations in Dhanbad and Dumka. During the previous raids, investigators seized over ₹2.20 crore in cash, along with more than 150 land deeds and evidence linking the suspects to illegal coal operations. The current raids aim to gather further evidence to dismantle the illegal coal network.