Rachkonda police nab 8 for selling adulterated coal

Hyderabad: The Rachkonda police, on 31 July, arrested eight persons for adulterating coal by mixing inferior-quality coal to high-grade consignments. The cops seized coal, cash, and equipment worth Rs 1.625 crore.

The special operations team, LB Nagar zone, along with the Ibrahimpatnam police arrested the owner of Venkateshwar Traders Unit dump yard, Gunde Raju, and seven others from Ramdaspally village under Ibrahimpatnam mandal.

The police seized Rs. 2.5 lakh cash, Singareni collieries Kothagudam coal weighing 1050 tons, Krishnapatnam shipyard coal weighing 300 tons, and Koyagudem coal ash weighing 600 tons. They also seized two lorries and two JCB earth-moving machines.

According to the police, Gunde Raju and another accused, Ameer Mohammed, purchased different qualities of coal, including inferior quality coal and coal ash, from Singareni collieries mines in Kothagudem. They would then dump them in their dumping yards and sell it to local industries.

“Due to the high demand for coal from local industries, Gunde Raju and Ameer Mohammed were making easy money by mixing the inferior quality coal with the high-grade consignment. Further, the duo was running the business without any license from a competent authority,” said a police officer.

Lorry drivers who were bringing coal from Singareni collieries and Krishnapatnam port for the local industries used to dump the high-grade quality coal at Gunde Raaj's dumping yard. They would then mix the inferior-quality coal and coal ash with the high-grade shipment. Gunde Raaj and Ameer Mohammad paid Rs. 20,000-25,000 to the lorry owners and drivers.

Five accused, including Ameer Mohammad, are absconding.