Charges to be framed against 48 in coal smuggling case, including kingpin Anup Maji

The special court in Asansol is scheduled to frame charges against 48 individuals, including coal mafia kingpin Anup Maji alias Lala, in the high-profile coal smuggling case. The accused also include Joydev Mondal, Narayan Kharge, and several others connected to the illegal coal mining and smuggling operations that have been under investigation for years. The case involves multiple regions and a wide network of individuals, with authorities estimating significant financial losses due to the illicit activities.

On Sunday, Bikash Mishra, one of the main accused in the case, was arrested by Kolkata police, further complicating the charge framing process. Despite the arrest, the court has moved ahead with the proceedings. The judge issued an order stating that Mishra must appear virtually if needed to avoid any delay in the legal process. The charge framing against the accused had been postponed earlier due to the absence of several accused and witnesses on July 3.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has submitted three charge sheets in the case, including 1,149 pages of evidence and documentation. There are 396 witnesses set to testify in the case, and 50 individuals are directly implicated in the coal smuggling ring. The investigation has also led to the identification of several properties linked to the accused and the discovery of large amounts of unaccounted cash.

Anup Maji, one of the key figures in the operation, is currently in Tihar Jail under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a related money laundering case. Additionally, a security constable from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) was killed during the investigation. The investigation also continues to pursue Binoy Mishra, who remains absconding. The legal proceedings in this case are expected to continue, with the CBI focused on ensuring that all accused individuals are brought to trial.