Anoop Majhi alias Lala, the main accused in the famous coal smuggling case of Kolkata, West Bengal, has received a big blow from the Supreme Court. The top court has given permission to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take him into custody and interrogate him. After this decision, for the first time, ED will be able to conduct a thorough investigation by taking Lala into its custody. Supreme Court decision In this decision, which came around February 2026, the Supreme Court removed the legal reliefs given to Lala and gave permission to ED for custodial interrogation. Earlier there were many legal hurdles in arrest or detention, but now the way has been cleared for the agency to carry forward the investigation.
Background of the scam...
According to the investigating agencies, this case is related to large-scale illegal coal mining, theft and smuggling in the mining areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). It is alleged that an organized syndicate was working under the leadership of Lala, in which the collusion of many officials has also come to light. The investigation has estimated illegal earnings of more than Rs 2700 crore. It is alleged that fake transport challans under the name “Lala Pad” were used in this network, in which transactions were done by coding small notes. asset confiscation and arrests The ED has recently provisionally seized assets worth about Rs 100.44 crore belonging to Lala and his associates, which include benami companies, land and mutual funds. Till now, total assets worth more than Rs 322 crore have been seized in this case. During the investigation, ED has also arrested Lala's close associates Chinmay Mandal and Kiran Khan. Many people like Jaidev Mandal, Gurupad, Nirod and Vinay Mishra were also involved in this illegal coal smuggling, who had connections with many influential leaders at the state and district level. The agency alleges that these people were spending the money earned from coal smuggling in real estate and other businesses.
Lala's journey...
Anup Majhi alias Lala originated from a poor family in Raghunathpur area of Purulia district. Earlier he used to do fish business, then after coming to Salanpur area, he allegedly got into the business of coal smuggling and gradually became the main face of this network.
What next...
Now, after the permission of the Supreme Court, ED can interrogate Lala in custody and investigate the links of smuggling network, hawala transactions and alleged political connections. There is also a possibility that this matter will take a more political form in the election environment. This action is being considered a major step in the ED investigation against the coal mafia syndicate.
