Coal smuggling syndicate, hawala operators, and a cop close to ‘kingpin’: How ED linked them to I-PAC

“A large part of this coal was sold to the Shakambhari Group of companies,” an ED official alleged.

The central agency claimed that the investigation has established links with hawala operators. “One such operator, allegedly involved in layering the proceeds of crime from coal smuggling, had facilitated transactions of tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC, the political consultancy firm. I-PAC is one of the entities linked to hawala money,” the ED official said.

ED sources said the searches were based on “fresh evidence” that emerged during the probe being conducted jointly by the CBI and ED into illegal coal mining and pilferage from ECL areas.

ECL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coal India Ltd and operates in West Bengal and Jharkhand.

Both the CBI and ED have earlier questioned Rujira Banerjee, wife of TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, in the case, alleging links with Majee.

Abhishek Banerjee has also been questioned in connection with the probe.

The ED had earlier alleged that Rs 6 crore in cash was routed through LTB Infraconsultancy Pvt Ltd, a company owned by Trinamool Congress youth leader Vinay Mishra and his brother Vikas Mishra. Vikas has been arrested, while Vinay is allegedly absconding and has acquired citizenship of another country, the agency has claimed.

In April 2021, the ED had told a special court that Rujira Banerjee and her sister were paid a “substantial amount” in London and Thailand by a key accused in the case. This claim was made while seeking further custody of Ashok Kumar Mishra, then inspector-in-charge of Bankura police station, who was alleged to be a close associate of Majee.

The agency had said Ashok Mishra claimed the transactions were made at the behest of Vinay Mishra and that the funds were sourced from Majee.

The CBI FIR in the case is based on inspections carried out by the Vigilance Department and an ECL task force, which allegedly found evidence of “extensive illegal mining” and organised transportation of illegally excavated coal from ECL leasehold areas, including the use of illegal weighbridges and heavy machinery.

In its statement on Thursday, the ED said the searches were “evidence-based” and “not targeted at any political establishment”, adding that no party office had been searched and that the action was “not linked to any elections” but was part of its regular crackdown on money laundering.

Shakambhari Group and its business

The Shakambhari Group, headed by chairman and managing director Deepak Kumar Agarwal, is among the largest integrated steel manufacturers in West Bengal.

The group operates multiple sponge iron, steel, and power units and markets products under brands such as ‘Thermocon’ and ‘Elegant’.

None of the companies of the Shakambhari Group is listed on any stock exchange.

According to publicly available financial disclosures, the group reported a turnover of Rs 5,533.69 crore in the 2023-24 financial year, which rose by nearly 10 per cent to Rs 6,098.39 crore in 2024-25.

Over the years, it has expanded by acquiring and reviving stressed industrial assets through the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), including units such as SPS Steels, Vikash Metal, Bravo Sponge Iron, and Ess Dee Aluminium.

Agarwal was not reachable for comment.—PTI