Who Are the Four Arrested in Hazaribagh's Coal Corruption Case?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Four individuals arrested in coal corruption case.
- CBI's investigation highlights issues of corruption in coal transportation.
- Accused allegedly accepted bribes from private coal lifters.
- Investigation includes both public and private individuals.
- Continued scrutiny is necessary in the coal sector.
New Delhi, July 15 (NationPress) - The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has apprehended four individuals, including a Manager and two clerks from the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) at the Giddi-A Colliery Project Office in Hazaribagh, in relation to a corruption inquiry concerning suspected irregularities in coal transportation.
The arrests were executed following a Joint Surprise Check carried out by the CBI on March 6, 2025, at the Giddi-A Colliery.
The accused officials were reportedly observed accepting illicit payments from private coal lifters in exchange for facilitating unauthorized lifting and transportation of coal.
This case also implicates unidentified public servants and private entities believed to be engaged in the scheme.
According to the CBI, the four detained individuals include: Ayodhya Karmali, Manager; Mukesh Kumar, Clerk; Prakash Mahli, Clerk; and Vijay Kumar Singh, a private individual suspected of acting as a middleman in this operation.
The first three suspects were employed at the Central Coalfields Limited (CCL) in Hazaribagh, Jharkhand, while the fourth is a private citizen.
The detainees are scheduled to appear before the Special CBI Court in Ranchi on Tuesday for judicial custody.
Sources from the investigation agency indicated that the CBI has acquired incriminating documents and electronic evidence throughout their checks and preliminary investigations.
The suspects are believed to have been operating an organized network that solicited bribes from coal transporters in exchange for issuing favorable clearances and permitting unauthorized coal lifting.
The case remains under active investigation, with the possibility of additional arrests.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding corruption within the coal sector, particularly in critical operational areas like Hazaribagh, where coal transportation is essential for regional economic activities.