The Enforcement Directorate (ED) made its first arrest in the alleged sand smuggling case in West Bengal on Thursday, detaining businessman Arun Sharaf, the head of GD Mining Company, after a series of raids across the state.
According to an ED officer, Sharaf was apprehended from the Bally area following extensive searches at multiple locations, including Salt Lake and Behala in Kolkata, where his company offices are based.
“Arun Sharaf had been under the agency’s watch for a considerable time for his suspected role in illegal sand mining and money laundering,” the officer said. “Investigations revealed that Sharaf held sand quarry leases in his own name but extracted quantities far exceeding the permitted limits. The proceeds were allegedly diverted into several bank accounts.”
Officials further suspect that a part of the illegally earned funds was routed abroad through hawala channels. The investigation is being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Early on Thursday, ED teams conducted simultaneous raids on properties linked to Sharaf in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, and North 24 Parganas districts. Searches were also carried out at the homes of company employees and truck drivers allegedly involved in the transport of sand, the officer added.
