Coal Theft Case: ED moves SC for custodial interrogation of Anup Majee

In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Supreme Court of India seeking custodial interrogation of Anup Majee alias Lala, the alleged kingpin in the Rs 1,300 crore coal theft case in the ECL coal-bearing areas of South Bengal.

The latest move by the ED comes a day before the next hearing in the matter concerning the office and residence of IPAC head Prateek Jain in Kolkata at the apex court.

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The ED had earlier alleged that money generated from the coal theft was used by the Trinamul Congress (TMC) through IPAC during the Goa Assembly election campaign. According to the Election Commission of India, the TMC spent the highest amount among all political parties, including the BJP, in the Goa Assembly polls.

At present, Anup Majee alias Lala is in Purulia. He could not be arrested earlier due to protection granted by the Supreme Court. However, the Special CBI Court in Asansol had observed that even if he was not arrested, he could be placed under house arrest from May 2024. On 14 May last year, the Special CBI Court in Asansol granted conditional bail to Majee, the principal accused in the coal smuggling case.

On Tuesday, the ED formally moved the Supreme Court seeking custodial interrogation of Majee. The plea was heard by a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria.

The ED has sought two weeks’ custody for interrogation. It is learnt that Majee’s accountant in the coal case is absconding. During the investigation into alleged financial transactions involving multiple individuals across different sectors, investigators reportedly found that records of the transactions were maintained in coded form. Additional Solicitor General S V Raju submitted before the Bench that the ED seeks custodial interrogation of Majee to retrieve the coded information in the absence of his accountant.

Majee was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10 lakh and surrendered before the special court the same day. The court directed that he must not leave his residence within the Neturia Police Station area in Purulia district. If he wishes to travel to Kolkata or Delhi, he must seek prior permission from the court.

Charges were framed in the Rs 1,300 crore coal theft case by the Asansol Special CBI Court last year. Another key accused, Binoy Mishra, remains absconding and is believed to have fled the country.

Meanwhile, the ED has recently carried out fresh raids and searches in connection with the coal theft case in Kolkata, Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad and Ranchi. Fresh ECIRs have also been lodged, and substantial assets have already been attached by the central investigating agency.