ED Raids Uncover ?1 Crore Cash, Suspected Benami Assets Worth ?100 Crore in Jharkhand Coal Business Probe

Ranchi/Dhanbad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has reportedly unearthed ?1 crore in cash and documents related to suspected benami movable and immovable properties worth around ?100 crore during raids linked to prominent coal businessmen L.B. Singh and Anil Goyal in Jharkhand.

According to sources, the ED recovered documents pertaining to alleged benami assets from premises associated with the businessmen's close associates, business partners, accountants and chartered accountants. Officials are currently scrutinising the seized documents to assess the value and ownership of the properties.

The agency has initiated the process of attaching the suspected benami assets under the relevant provisions of law.

The searches began at around 6.30 am on Tuesday at multiple locations in Dhanbad. While raids at some premises have concluded, search operations were still underway at others at the time of reporting.

Sources said the latest action follows an earlier round of ED searches at the residences, offices and companies linked to L.B. Singh and Anil Goyal. Based on documents recovered during those raids, the agency had summoned both businessmen for questioning. The fresh searches are believed to be a continuation of the ongoing investigation.

The businessmen have previously come under the scanner of the Income Tax Department, GST authorities, and other investigative agencies.

In an earlier Income Tax raid, officials had reportedly detected ?100 crore in the bank account of coal trader L.B. Singh, a development that had drawn nationwide attention. Singh is also known to be associated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

During an earlier ED search at his residence, Singh had allegedly released a pet dog inside the premises while officials were conducting the operation.

The ED has not yet issued an official statement on the outcome of the latest searches, and the investigation is continuing.