In a recent development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made allegations against Jharkhand coal trader Ezhar Ansari, asserting that he engaged in bribery to secure subsidized coal from the Jharkhand government officials. The central agency had arrested Ansari and conducted fresh searches at three locations in Hazaribag on Tuesday.
The ED claims that Ezhar Ansari, arrested for money laundering, was involved in misusing the coal linkage policy meant for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for captive consumption. Instead of adhering to the policy, Ansari allegedly diverted around 86,568 tonnes of coal, valued at Rs 71 crore, allotted to 13 SME firms. The coal was then allegedly sold in the open market, generating an equivalent amount of proceeds of crime.
The 13 firms, as per the ED, have been identified as non-operational shell entities. Ansari is accused of significantly profiting from the sale of subsidized coal at higher prices in the open coal markets of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and Dhanbad (Jharkhand). The agency alleges that Ansari invested the proceeds in immovable properties.
The investigation indicates that, in exchange for the subsidized coal allotment, Ezhar Ansari used to provide bribes or commissions to certain public servants. This money laundering case originated from an FIR and charge sheet filed by the state police against Ansari, Sayyaid Salmani (a truck driver working for him), and others under various sections of the IPC and Coal Mines Act.
Notably, this is not the first time Ansari has faced legal scrutiny. He was initially raided by the ED in March last year, resulting in the seizure of assets worth Rs 3.58 crore. The ED has now secured custody of Ansari for six days, following the order of a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Ranchi.