Dhanbad: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen mutual fund investments worth nearly Rs 160 crore belonging to coal trader L B Singh and seized Rs 1.02 crore in alleged unaccounted cash during searches at 31 premises in Dhanbad, the agency said on Wednesday.The searches were conducted on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in cases involving coal trader Anil Goyal, Singh, Harendra Chauhan and others. Premises linked to the accused, their relatives, associates and business entities were covered.ED also recovered digital devices, account books and documents relating to more than 200 immovable properties suspected to have been acquired using proceeds of crime.The money-laundering investigation stems from multiple FIRs registered by Jharkhand police alleging illegal coal mining, theft and smuggling, unauthorised extraction, levy collection and on-lifting of coal in Dhanbad and adjoining districts. Police have filed chargesheets in several cases.According to ED, the accused generated substantial proceeds of crime and used multiple individuals and entities to layer the funds and conceal their origin. The funds were allegedly invested in movable and immovable assets.The agency had conducted similar searches in Nov 2025.
