ED has arrested Md Ezhar Ansari on 16/01/2024 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 being found guilty of offence of Money laundering in coal linkage misuse case.
Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has arrested Md Ezhar Ansari on 16/01/2024 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 being found guilty of offence of Money laundering in coal linkage misuse case. Md Ezhar Ansari has produced before the Hon’ble Special PMLA Court, Ranchi on 17/01/2024. The Hon’ble Court has granted ED custody for six days.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by Jharkhand Police against truck driver Sayyaid Salmani (who works for Ezhar Ansari), Ezhar Ansari & others under various sections of IPC, 1860. Later on, Charge sheet was filed by the Jharkhand Police against Md. Ezhar Ansari & others under various sections of IPC, 1860 and Coal Mines Act. In this case illegally transported coal to the tune of 19 tonnes along with the said truck was also seized by the Jharkhand Police
ED investigation revealed that Md Ezhar Ansari has misused the coal linkage policy under which subsidized coal used to be allotted to small & medium enterprise (SME) for captive consumption. Around 86568 tonnes of coal having market value of Rs 71 Crore was allotted to 13(thirteen) such SME firms of Ezhar Ansari. However, instead of using it for captive consumption, Ezhar Ansari diverted and sold the coal in the open market and generated the equal amount of Proceeds of Crime. Further investigation revealed that these 13 firms/entities have been found to be non-operational/shell entities. Earlier, during searches conducted on 03.03.2023 at the premises linked to Ezhar Ansari, Proceeds of Crime to the tune of Rs 3.58 Crore was found and seized along with many incriminating digital and documentary evidences
ED investigation has also revealed that the accused person has acquired huge Proceeds of crime by selling such coal (of subsidized rate) at the higher price in open coal Mandi of Varanasi and Dhanbad and also invested the Proceeds of crime in immovable properties. Investigation indicated that in lieu of such subsidized coal allotment, Ezhar Ansari used to give bribe/commission to some public servants.
For the purpose of investigation, repeated summonses were issued to him under section 50 of the PMLA, 2002 but he neither appeared nor submitted any reply to ED. On 16.01.2024, ED conducted search on 3 premises at Hazaribagh linked to him and arrested him from Hazaribagh only. Further investigation is under progress.