Archive · 13 Aug 2026
ED summons five, including Singh's wife, in Jharkhand coal scam
A government agency called the Enforcement Directorate is investigating a big coal scam in the Indian state of Jharkhand.
Coal is a black rock that is burned for energy, and some people are accused of digging it up and selling it illegally.
Investigators think the people involved made a lot of money from this illegal coal business.
The agency has asked five people to come and answer questions, including the wife, brother, and brother-in-law of a businessman named L.B. Singh.
It also wants to question two people linked to another businessman named Anil Goyal.
Earlier, the agency searched 31 places and found investments worth nearly 160 crore rupees, which have been frozen.
It also found about one crore rupees in cash that was not reported, along with phones, computers, and papers for more than 200 properties.
Investigators believe the illegal money may have been used to buy these properties and hidden as normal earnings.
The questioning is scheduled for mid-August, and the investigation is still going on.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned five people linked to coal businessmen L.B. Singh and Anil Goyal in the Jharkhand coal scam probe.
Aarti Singh, wife of L.B. Singh, must appear before the ED's regional office on August 20; his brother Vishwavijay Singh and brother-in-law Ranjit Kumar Singh were directed to appear on August 14 and August 17.
Two associates of Anil Goyal, Shabbir Alam and Mahendra Singh, have also been summoned for questioning next week.
The ED searched 31 locations on July 28 in Dhanbad and adjoining areas, resulting in the freezing of mutual fund investments worth nearly Rs 160 crore linked to LB Singh.
Investigators seized around Rs 1.02 crore in unaccounted cash, digital devices, and sale deeds and records covering more than 200 movable and immovable properties.
- Who
- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), summoning individuals connected to coal businessmen L.B. Singh and Anil Goyal.
- What
- Summonses and searches in a money laundering probe linked to the Jharkhand coal scam; mutual funds worth nearly Rs 160 crore were frozen and cash, devices, and property records were seized.
- When
- Searches on July 28, following earlier searches in November 2025; summonses scheduled for August 14, 17 and 20, with two more individuals due next week.
- Where
- Ranchi, Dhanbad and adjoining areas in Jharkhand, India.
- Why
- To investigate suspected money laundering arising from alleged illegal coal mining, coal theft and transportation, extortion, and unlawful levy collection in coal loading operations.
- Investigating agency
- Enforcement Directorate (ED)
- People summoned
- 5 — Aarti Singh, Vishwavijay Singh, Ranjit Kumar Singh, Shabbir Alam, Mahendra Singh
- Figures under scrutiny
- L.B. Singh and Anil Goyal
- Locations searched (July 28)
- 31 sites in Dhanbad and adjoining areas
- Mutual fund investments frozen
- Nearly Rs 160 crore
- Unaccounted cash seized
- About Rs 1.02 crore
- Property records recovered
- More than 200 movable and immovable properties
- Case origin
- FIRs and charge sheets filed by Jharkhand Police