Kolkata, 1 December (H.S.)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday intensified its investigation into illegal sand mining with a fresh raid in the Gopiballavpur area of Jhargram. An ED team, accompanied by central security forces, began searching the residence of a local businessman accused of using fake invoices to extract and sell sand illegally.

According to ED sources, the businessman has been identified as Abhishek Patra, popularly known in the area as Biltu. A case related to illegal sand mining and sale had earlier been registered against him at Keshiari police station. The ongoing ED raid is based on that earlier case, officials said.

Patra is currently in Kolkata for the treatment of his father, who is battling cancer and admitted to a city hospital. Due to this, ED officials were unable to speak to him directly during Monday’s operation.

Sources confirmed that the search operation is still underway, and several important documents have already been recovered from the premises.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh