In a major crackdown against the illegal coal trade, the Hirri police have busted a massive inter-state syndicate operating in Bilaspur, the legal capital of Chhattisgarh. A well-organized network has been exposed for allegedly skimming off high-grade, premium coal mined from South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) and replacing it with cheap, low-quality material to pocket massive profit margins. Following a swift operation, law enforcement officials arrested a local coal depot operator, who has been sent to judicial custody. The revelation has sent shockwaves across the regional industrial and coal-trading corridors.The Transporter’s Complaint Sparks Immediate Police Action The multi-layered fraud came to light when Ashish Kessari, a commercial transporter responsible for coal lifting and logistics, filed a formal written complaint at the Hirri police station. According to the investigation details, Kessari's firm was officially contracted to transport high-grade 'G-6 Grade' coal from SECL’s Rampur mines directly to the manufacturing facility of Brij Iron and Steel Limited. Two heavy-duty trailers loaded with premium coal boasting a Gross Calorific Value (GCV) ranging between 5500 and 5800 units were dispatched for the plant. However, the high-value consignment was heavily compromised mid-transit.Industrial Laboratory Test Unmasks the Syndicate Suspicion arose the moment the two coal-laden trailers entered the premises of the steel plant. Noting anomalies in the physical appearance and texture of the cargo, the plant’s chief chemist immediately halted the offloading process and ordered an urgent laboratory assessment. The test results left the management stunned. The coal, which documentation claimed to be of premium 5500–5800 GCV quality, registered at a dismal 4203 and 4220 GCV. The scientific data confirmed that the high-grade industrial coal had been systematically siphoned off at an interim transit point and substituted with inferior waste material or low-calorie dust.Raids at Coal Depot Lead to Massive Seizure and Arrest Acting promptly on the industrial fraud report, a specialized police team was formed under the direct supervision of Bilaspur SSP Rajnesh Singh, ASP Madhulika Singh, and Chakarbhatha CSP DR Tandon. The Hirri police launched a surprise raid at a suspected coal depot located in the Dighora area. A meticulous inspection of the yard revealed massive stockpiles of low-grade coal used for blending. Investigators seized both transit trailers and collected matching samples from the yard. The probe established the direct involvement of the depot operator, identified as Ramkumar Arya, a resident of the Chakarbhatha region. Police registered a case under stringent sections 316(3), 317(2), 317(4), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and formally arrested the accused.Deepening Investigation Targets Institutional Collusion Preliminary interrogations indicate that this incident is not an isolated case of theft but part of a highly lucrative, systemic economic offense. By replacing high-priced industrial fuel with cheap residue, the syndicate has been inflicting multi-million losses on manufacturing plants while amassing illicit wealth. The Hirri police have expanded the scope of the investigation to trace the entire supply and distribution network. Detectives are currently scrutinizing potential links with transit networks, mining security personnel, and other depot aggregators to determine how long this sophisticated racket has been operational in the region.
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