ED raids 8 locations in ₹2,407 crore illegal sand mining case
Synopsis
The ED has raided eight locations across three cities in a ₹2,407.70 crore illegal sand mining case, seizing cash, silver bullion, and digital devices. With a former Mines and Geology Department director named in the originating FIR, the probe cuts straight to the heart of alleged state-level collusion in one of Andhra Pradesh's most significant natural resource fraud cases.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate searched eight locations in Hyderabad , Jaipur , and Coimbatore on 26 May under the PMLA .
Three firms — GCKC Projects and Works Pvt.
Ltd. , Prathima Infrastructure Ltd. , and Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd. — face demand notices totalling ₹2,407.70 crore .
The originating FIR was filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Vijayawada and names the then Director of Mines and Geology Department, V.G.
Illegal excavations included sand dug beyond permitted depth and extraction from non-permitted areas , confirmed by Supreme Court -mandated District Level Sand Committees .
Seizures include ₹1.53 crore in Indian currency, $1,800 in foreign currency, and silver bullion worth ₹1.29 crore , along with digital devices and documents.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s Hyderabad Zonal Office conducted search operations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at eight locations across Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Coimbatore on 26 May, targeting accused persons and firms linked to a large-scale illegal sand mining case in Andhra Pradesh. The agency confirmed the searches on Friday, 29 May, disclosing demand notices worth ₹2,407.70 crore raised against three entities involved in the alleged violations.
Premises Searched and Entities Targeted
The search operation covered official premises of GCKC Projects and Works Private Limited, Prathima Infrastructure Limited, and Turnkey Enterprises Private Limited. Residential premises of Boinipally Srinivas Rao, Ashok Kumar, and V.G. Venkata Reddy in Hyderabad and Jaipur, along with a farmhouse belonging to Boinipally Srinivas Rao, were also covered in the operation.
Origins of the Investigation
The ED launched its money laundering probe on the basis of an FIR registered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau's Central Investigation Unit at the NTR district in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh. The FIR named the then Director of Mines and Geology Department, V.G. Venkata Reddy, along with Jaiprakash Power Ventures Limited, Prathima Infrastructure Ltd., and GCKC Projects and Works Pvt. Ltd., alleging multiple violations in sand mining operations — including illegal extraction and irregularities in tender and agreement processes.
Scale of Illegal Excavation
According to the ED, the Supreme Court-constituted District Level Sand Committees (DSLC) conducted inspections of sand reaches and documented two distinct categories of illegal excavation by the accused firms: sand dug beyond the permitted depth, and sand extracted from areas outside the permitted zone. Following these findings, the Office of the Mines and Geology Department Director issued multiple show cause notices and subsequently raised demand notices totalling ₹2,407.70 crore against the three entities.
Seizures Made During the Raids
The searches yielded Indian currency of ₹1.53 crore, foreign currency worth $1,800, and silver bullion valued at ₹1.29 crore. Investigators also seized several digital devices and a cache of incriminating documents, including details of movable and immovable properties held in the names of the accused and their family members.
What Comes Next
The ED confirmed that further investigation is ongoing. Given the scale of the demand notices and the multi-city spread of the searches, the case is likely to see additional proceedings under the PMLA, potentially including asset attachment orders. The involvement of a senior government official in the originating FIR adds a layer of institutional accountability to what is already one of the larger sand mining money laundering probes in recent years.
Point of View
407.70 crore demand figure is striking — but the more consequential detail is the presence of a sitting government official in the originating FIR. Sand mining in Andhra Pradesh has long been a flashpoint for allegations of regulatory capture, and this case fits a familiar pattern: private contractors allegedly over-extracting with apparent impunity until enforcement agencies step in years later. The multi-city spread of the searches — Hyderabad, Jaipur, Coimbatore — suggests the proceeds were routed well beyond the state, raising questions about how long the paper trail was visible before action was taken. Whether the PMLA proceedings lead to substantive asset attachment, or stall at the seizure stage, will be the real measure of this investigation's depth.
NationPress
14 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ED's illegal sand mining case about?
The ED is investigating alleged money laundering linked to large-scale illegal sand mining in Andhra Pradesh, where three private firms reportedly excavated sand beyond permitted depths and outside permitted zones. Demand notices totalling ₹2,407.70 crore have been raised against the entities involved.
Which companies and individuals are named in the case?
The firms named include GCKC Projects and Works Pvt. Ltd., Prathima Infrastructure Ltd., Jaiprakash Power Ventures Ltd., and Turnkey Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Individuals named in the originating FIR include the then Director of Mines and Geology Department V.G. Venkata Reddy, Boinipally Srinivas Rao, and Ashok Kumar.
What was seized during the ED raids?
The searches resulted in the seizure of ₹1.53 crore in Indian currency, $1,800 in foreign currency, silver bullion valued at ₹1.29 crore, multiple digital devices, and documents detailing movable and immovable properties held by the accused and their family members.
How were the illegal excavations identified?
The Supreme Court-constituted District Level Sand Committees (DSLC) inspected sand reaches and found two forms of illegal extraction: sand dug beyond the permitted depth and sand removed from areas outside the permitted zone. Their findings prompted the Mines and Geology Department to issue show cause and demand notices.
What happens next in the investigation?
The ED has confirmed that further investigation is ongoing under the PMLA. The next likely steps include potential asset attachment orders and possible arrests, depending on the evidence gathered from the seized documents and digital devices.
