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Bengal Police have arrested Ajay Hari, a name long associated with the illegal sand mining business in West Burdwan district. His arrest came late Saturday night.
Officers from the Malandighi outpost tracked him down in the Bidbihar area on Saturday night. He is expected to be produced before the Durgapur Sub-District Court later in the day.
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Police plan to seek his custody so they can question him further as part of the larger investigation into the sand smuggling network he allegedly ran.
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A fortune built on sand
Investigators allege that Hari accumulated an enormous fortune through illegal sand extraction using proceeds to buy houses, cars, property worth crores of rupees.
According to a senior officer at the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, Hari’s assets include multiple houses, luxury cars, tractors, dumpers, sand extraction machines, and JCBs. He was also reportedly involved in the brick kiln business, and over the years, he even built an ashram.
A business that grew over decades
Local sources say the sand mafia in Durgapur first took root during the CPI(M) era, but it was during the Trinamool Congress years that the network truly expanded its reach and influence.
Hari’s operation reportedly involved illegally extracting sand from the Ajay River and then smuggling it out for profit. After the Left Front government fell in 2011, his closeness to Trinamool leaders grew steadily. Police say that as those political ties strengthened, so did his wealth, eventually leading to the crores worth of assets he holds today.
Political connections raise questions
Police say Hari had long been known for his close relationship with Trinamool Congress leaders. Allegations regarding illegal sand extraction from the Ajay River are not new, they have circulated for years.
However, it is alleged that during the previous government’s tenure, no real action was taken against him, despite the accusations following him for so long.
A crackdown under the new government
Since the change in government in West Bengal, authorities have taken steps to shut down illegal sand smuggling operations across the state.
The BJP government has stated clearly that practices that were allowed to continue during the Trinamool Congress era will no longer be tolerated.
Following the change in power in West Bengal, Hari had reportedly gone into hiding to avoid arrest.
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