Notorious sand mafia operator Ajay Hari has been arrested in West Burdwan district, West Bengal, police confirmed on Sunday, 5 July. Personnel from the Malandighi outpost nabbed him in the Bidbihar area on Saturday night, ending what officials describe as a prolonged run from the law following the change of government in the state.

The Arrest and What Follows

Hari is set to be produced before the Durgapur Sub-District Court, after which police will seek his custody for further questioning. Investigators aim to map the full extent of the sand smuggling network — identifying other operatives and tracing the money trail behind assets allegedly acquired through illegal means.

According to police, property including houses, luxury cars, tractors, dumpers, sand-extraction machines, and JCBs — along with a brick kiln business and a privately built ashram — are linked to Hari. It is alleged that these assets, worth crores of rupees, were accumulated through proceeds from the racket.

A Racket That Allegedly Spanned Two Political Eras

According to local sources, the sand mafia network in Durgapur first took root during the CPI(M) era and expanded substantially under the subsequent All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. Police allege that Hari illegally extracted sand from the Ajay River and smuggled it over an extended period.

After the Left Front government fell in 2011, Hari's proximity to TMC leaders reportedly deepened, and his wealth multiplied over the following years. Critics have long alleged that police and administration failed to act against him during the previous government's tenure — an allegation that authorities at the time did not publicly address.

What the Police Said

A senior officer of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate confirmed that Hari's holdings include residential properties, high-end vehicles, heavy machinery, and the brick kiln operation. The officer indicated that Hari had been evading arrest since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in West Bengal, but that sustained police pressure eventually led to his capture.

The BJP government has stated that illegal and unethical practices allegedly tolerated during the TMC era will not be permitted to continue, and has directed law enforcement to act firmly against criminal networks and mafia operations across the state.

Broader Context: Illegal Sand Mining in West Bengal

Illegal sand extraction from rivers across West Bengal has been a persistent problem, with the Ajay River in West Burdwan among the most affected stretches. Environmental advocates have repeatedly flagged riverbed damage from unregulated dredging. This arrest is among the more high-profile actions taken since the new administration signalled a crackdown on such networks.

With Hari now in custody, investigators will look to determine how deep the racket runs — and whether political or administrative figures face scrutiny as the probe advances.