ED files 4,700-page chargesheet against 14 companies in sand smuggling case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reached a major milestone in the West Bengal sand smuggling investigation by filing a comprehensive chargesheet at the special ED court in Bankshall. The 4,700-page document names businessman Arun Saraf, his firm GD Mining, and 13 other entities as primary accused. The agency submitted the chargesheet on Saturday, within 60 days of Saraf’s arrest, alleging a systematic scam amounting to approximately ₹145 crore.

According to the ED, Arun Saraf and his associates completely bypassed the regulations set by the West Bengal Sand Mining, Estate Management, and Sale Policy (WBMDTCL). By operating outside the legal framework, the group allegedly misappropriated nearly ₹79 crore in government revenue. Investigations revealed a stark discrepancy in the books; while the company declared ₹103 crore from sand sales in the 2024-25 fiscal year, its bank accounts saw deposits exceeding ₹130 crore, pointing towards massive money laundering.

The chargesheet provides a detailed look at the fraudulent methods used to siphon off sand from riverbeds. The ED claims the syndicate used a single permit and lorry number to facilitate multiple trips, making it appear as if only one authorized vehicle was in operation. Furthermore, they allegedly resorted to advanced forgery by creating fake QR codes on e-challans to deceive administrative checks. This allowed the smuggling ring to move massive quantities of sand across the state without detection by the local authorities.