CBI arrests 7, including 2 ex-GMs of state-run ECL

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested seven persons, including two former general managers of the state-run Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), in connection with the multi-crore coal pilferage scam. They were produced before a special court in Asansol on Thursday and remanded to five days of police custody.

Those arrested include two former general managers, a former chief manager (security), a project officer, the then manager (security), the then two security sub-inspectors of ECL. They were arrested after they were interrogated by the CBI at their Kolkata office on Wednesday night.

"They failed to provide satisfactory answers to questions and tried to evade and hide information. We suspect their active involvement in the scam. As part of the investigation, we have arrested them," CBI sources said.


Asish Mukherjee, lawyer of the accused, said, "Raids were earlier made by CBI in the houses of these officials and no incriminating documents have been found in their possession. Despite that, the CBI has sought their custody and the court has allowed it for five days."

The court raised questions on how coal pilferage could have happened from the closed mines of ECL and why it was not reported to the police.

"A case was registered in November 2020 in connection with the allegations that the public servants of ECL including security personnel, a private person, some unknown officials allegedly from the CISF, Railway, other departments and some unknown persons had entered into a conspiracy during May 2020 and had fraudulently misappropriated coal from the coal reserve of the leasehold areas under the dominion of the ECL and also from the coal stock parked in the Railway sidings for sale and supply," CBI officials said.