The Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued summons to six coal traders on Tuesday, 13th January, in connection with a large-scale coal smuggling case in West Bengal. Officials stated that at least three of these traders are already being investigated by central agencies for their alleged links to a smuggling network operating across several states.
This move comes just days after the ED carried out searches at the office of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) and the Kolkata residence of its director, Pratik Jain.
How the 2020 coal scam began
The case has its roots in a CBI FIR registered on 27th November, 2020, against businessman Anup Majee and others. The FIR spoke about illegal coal mining from the leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in West Bengal. On 28th November, 2020, the ED registered an ECIR and began tracking the money trail linked to the coal trade.
During the investigation, the ED found that Majee’s network had taken out nearly 25.51 lakh metric tonnes of coal. The coal, worth more than Rs 1,114 crore, was supplied to factories in districts such as Bankura, Purba Bardhaman and Purulia. The agency also uncovered a hawala setup used to move and hide the money earned from this activity.
Money trial and I-PAC angle
According to the ED, part of the money moved through hawala channels reached entities connected to I-PAC. The agency estimates that around Rs 20 crore was transferred from Kolkata to Goa between 2021 and 2022.
These transfers were made through middlemen, including a firm named R. Kanti Lal, and were linked to election-related activities. Statements from those involved and WhatsApp chats have been cited as key evidence.
Raids and the latest summons
On 8th January, 2026, ED teams searched ten locations, six in West Bengal and four in Delhi. These included places linked to Majee’s associates, hawala operators, buyers from the Shakambhari Group, and I-PAC.
Searches at Pratik Jain’s Loudon Street residence and the I-PAC office drew attention after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived with police. The ED later moved the Calcutta High Court seeking a CBI probe.
The summons issued on 13th January aims to widen the probe and understand the full chain of coal movement and payments. The ED says the focus is on money laundering under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Court hearings in the matter are scheduled for 14th January, and more details are expected after the traders are questioned.
