Supreme Court gave a short date on the ED’s plea seeking cancellation of Anup Majee’s bail in the alleged ₹2,700-crore coal mining scam

The Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it would hear on a short date the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking cancellation of bail granted to Anup Majee, alias Lala, an accused in the alleged ₹2,700-crore illegal coal mining scam in West Bengal.

The Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta was hearing the matter.


Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, told the Court that the agency had received a nearly 400-page counter from the other side only on Wednesday.

Justice Sandeep Mehta remarked that the response had “become almost like an Appeal.”

Raju submitted that the ED had a strong case but sought a short date to respond to the counter.

The Bench indicated that it would first consider the counter/response and noted that both sides would require adequate time to make their submissions.

The immediate point of contention, however, was whether any interim protection or stay should be granted before the matter is heard in detail.

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Majee, strongly opposed any interim relief to the ED.

“Please don’t. I have great difficulty, my Lords,” Dave submitted, arguing that granting a stay at this stage would cause serious prejudice to his client.

The Bench indicated that the matter could be taken up on a short date, with both sides being given an opportunity to make their arguments.

The Court thereafter recorded, “Leave granted.”

The ED is seeking cancellation of Majee’s bail in connection with the alleged illegal coal mining case, one of the major money laundering investigations being probed by the agency.

Background

Notably, in July the Court had issued notice in the plea.

The case originates from a 2020 FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged large-scale illegal excavation and theft of coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). Based on the FIR, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on November 28, 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

While the CBI’s predicate investigation is being examined in West Bengal and has been separately challenged before the Calcutta High Court, the ED proceedings were pursued before courts in Delhi, including the Special PMLA Court at Patiala House.

In the ED proceedings, Majee approached the Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail. The High Court noted that he had already appeared before the agency on multiple occasions and observed that no arrest had been made despite the filing of prosecution complaints. It held that the statutory “twin conditions” under Section 45 of the PMLA stood satisfied and granted him protection from arrest.

The Enforcement Directorate has now challenged this order before the Supreme Court.

Before the apex court, the ED has alleged that Majee was a key organiser of a syndicate involved in illegal mining and transportation of stolen coal. It has claimed that coal worth over ₹2,742 crore was illegally extracted from ECL leasehold areas as part of a coordinated operation. The agency has further alleged that it recovered financial records maintained by Majee’s accountant, purportedly reflecting proceeds of crime generated through the illegal mining activities. According to the ED, the syndicate also operated through shell companies with dummy directors to layer and launder illicit funds.

Case Title: Directorate of Enforcement v. Anup Majee

Bench: Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta

Hearing Date: September 3, 2026

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