ED raids 8 locations across Bihar, Delhi and Rajasthan
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted coordinated searches at eight locations across Bihar, Delhi, and Rajasthan as part of an investigation into alleged large-scale illegal sand mining in Bihar’s Banka district, amounting to Rs 131 crore.
The operations took place on Friday and targeted premises associated with Mahadev Enclave, a company based in Banka controlled by Ashok Chandak and his son Raghav Chandak, both originally from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The locations searched included sites in Banka and Patna districts of Bihar, as well as in Delhi, Sri Ganganagar, and Jaipur. Preliminary investigations indicated that Mahadev Enclave engaged in illegal sand extraction in Banka without obtaining necessary permits or reporting to the Bihar Mining Department.
The extent of the violations was revealed following a geospatial analysis commissioned by the Enforcement Directorate from IIT Patna in October 2024, which concluded that the company had excavated sand valued at approximately Rs 131 crore between the fiscal years 2015-16 and 2022-23. These findings were shared with the Bihar State Mining Corporation Limited, prompting the state’s Mines and Geology Department to file an FIR with the police in August 2025.
The ongoing money-laundering investigation is a direct follow-up to that FIR. The operation spanning multiple states exemplifies the Enforcement Directorate’s strategy to trace financial flows linked to environmental violations across jurisdictions. Officials said the raids in Delhi and Rajasthan suggest efforts to examine layered assets and proceeds held outside Bihar. Illegal sand mining remains a significant challenge, contributing to substantial revenue loss for Governments and irreversible ecological damage.
In Banka, the alleged extraction over nearly eight years underscores deficiencies in monitoring and enforcement by state authorities.
The involvement of IIT Patna in geospatial analysis indicates a shift towards data-driven investigations in such cases. The agency is expected to scrutinise bank accounts, property records, and financial transactions linked to the Chandak family and the company. No arrests have been made to date; however, the searches are likely to result in further questioning and potentially the provisional attachment of properties under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The involvement of a Rajasthan-based family operating within Bihar also highlights the inter-state nature of such illicit activities.
The ED’s actions align with increased scrutiny of sectors vulnerable to large-scale illegal extraction and money laundering. “The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for the application of geospatial technology and inter-agency cooperation in combating environmental crimes with significant financial implications”, an official said.
