ED names company, involved in Deocha Pachami project, in chargesheet against illegal sand mining

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has mentioned Pachami Basalt Mining Limited in its charge sheet related to sand smuggling at the Deucha-Pachami project. Investigators allege that Arun Sharaf, now under arrest, had invested proceeds from sand smuggling into this company. The funds also flowed through G D Mining, according to the ED.

Earlier, questions had been raised over the awarding of tenders to Pachami Basalt Mining at Deucha-Pachami by CPM leader Mohammad Selim. With the company now appearing in the charge sheet, political debate over the project has intensified again.

The investigative agency claims that money from illegal sand sales was laundered via Pachami Basalt Mining. Notably, the state government canceled the company’s tender just fifteen days before the ED filed its charge sheet.

The first charge sheet mentions nearly Rs. 145 crore in alleged corruption through G D Mining, but it does not specify the final destination of the funds. Raids at several locations, including the home of Medinipur sand trader Saurabh Ray, recovered large sums of cash, though these details were not included in the charge sheet.

The Deucha-Pachami project is being developed as India’s largest coal mine, covering around 3,400 acres. From the start, the project has faced land disputes, protests by local landowners, and political tensions, although many of the land-related issues have now been resolved.