New Delhi, 12 May (H.S.): The Supreme Court has issued a notice to accused Anup Maji in the money laundering case linked to the West Bengal coal scam, while hearing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) petition challenging the advance bail granted to him. A bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath directed that notice be served on Maji.

Anup Maji had been granted anticipatory bail by the Delhi High Court in 2025. The ED had conducted a raid on the Kolkata office of I‑PACK in 2025 as part of the probe into the West Bengal coal scam. During the raid, former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly obstructed the investigation and is accused of carrying away several digital pieces of evidence. The ED has filed a petition in the Supreme Court in connection with this matter.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the ED, said that Maji is absconding and has been involved in large‑scale financial manipulation in the case. He claimed that Anup Maji is the “kingpin” in the case, with allegations of around ₹2,700 crore of financial irregularities. Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Maji, argued that his client has fully cooperated with the investigation and has appeared for questioning 23 times when summoned.

The ED had filed a prosecution complaint in the Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi on 2 August 2022, related to illegal coal trade in West Bengal. According to the agency, the total alleged fraud in the case exceeds ₹2,742 crore.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar