The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a major operation on Friday, November 21, 2025, conducting searches at over 40 locations across Jharkhand and West Bengal. This action is part of a crackdown on coal theft and illegal mining activities linked to the coal mafia in these states.

Starting early in the morning, more than 100 ED officials participated in the coordinated raids, which were carried out in collaboration with local police forces. In Jharkhand, the ED focused on 18 locations associated with individuals involved in coal smuggling, including Anil Goyal, Sanjay Udhyog, L B Singh, and Amar Mandal.

Officials stated that the scale of the operations indicates significant coal pilferage, leading to substantial financial losses for the government, estimated to be in the hundreds of crores.

In West Bengal, the ED targeted 24 premises in districts such as Durgapur, Purulia, Howrah, and Kolkata. The searches are linked to allegations of illegal mining, transportation, and storage of coal, with premises associated with Narendra Kharka, Yudhistar Ghosh, and Krishna Murari Kayal also being examined.

This coordinated effort underscores the ED's commitment to tackling the coal mafia and addressing the serious issue of illegal coal activities in the region.