ED Achieves Major Breakthrough in Sand Smuggling Case, Uncovers Corruption Scheme Worth 145 Crore

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, January 2,, 2026, Kolkata :In a significant breakthrough in the fight against corruption, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet in a sand smuggling case involving multiple individuals and companies, including Arun Sharaf, the owner of GD Mining. The charge sheet, presented on Saturday in the ED's special court at Bankshall, implicates 14 companies in total. This legal filing comes within 60 days of the arrests made during the ongoing investigation.

The ED's investigation has uncovered evidence of financial misconduct amounting to a staggering 145 crore rupees. According to the agency, these funds were transferred through a network of 14 companies, including GD Mining, with Sharaf at the helm. Sharaf, arrested by the ED on November 6, 2025, is accused of using his position to amass significant profits by blatantly ignoring the regulations set by the West Bengal Sand (Mining, Transport, Storage and Sale) Act (WBMDTCL).

The charge sheet outlines the various fraudulent methods employed by Sharaf and his associates. It is alleged that he misappropriated at least 79 crore rupees in government funds. Furthermore, discrepancies in the financial records of GD Mining have raised red flags. According to the ED, the company’s bank account shows a total deposit of 130 crore rupees in the 2024-25 financial year, yet only 103 crore rupees of that amount was generated from legitimate sand sales.

The investigation presents a detailed picture of a complex operation involving not only GD Mining but also several other companies implicated in sand smuggling. One of the primary allegations is the misuse of truck permits. While specific truck numbers were authorised for transporting sand, these same numbers were reportedly reused across multiple trucks, allowing illegal sand smuggling to take place undetected by authorities. The fraudulent activity was compounded by allegations of forged QR codes on the sand extraction permits.

The ED's charge sheet, filed after an exhaustive investigation into these irregularities, paints a damning picture of corruption and systemic fraud. As the investigation continues, more details are expected to emerge, further implicating those involved in this sprawling illicit operation.