Coal case: Enforcement Directorate arrests first police officer

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Ashok Mishra, inspector-in-charge of Bankura police station, on Sunday, just two days ahead of the third phase of Bengal elections giving the BJP a chance to accuse ruling Trinamul of benefiting from the proceeds of illegal coal smuggling.

Mishra is the first police officer to be arrested by one of the two central agencies probing the multi-crore coal pilferage case spanning across several districts of Bengal.

“Mishra is instrumental in parking huge amounts of funds in the accounts of several beneficiaries,” said a senior ED officer. “There are reasons to believe about his active involvement in siphoning funds that was collected following pilferage of coal.”