Kolkata, July 5 (IANS) Notorious sand mafia Ajay Hari has been arrested in the West Burdwan district of West Bengal, the police said on Sunday.

The police personnel of the Malandighi outpost in West Burdwan district arrested him in the Bidbihar area on Saturday night.

It is alleged that property, houses and cars worth crores of rupees were bought with money generated through a sand smuggling racket.

He will be produced in the Durgapur Sub-District Court later in the day, the police said.

The police will seek his custody to question him as part of their investigation into the sand smuggling case. The police will try to find out who else is involved in this gang and how the entire racket functioned.

According to the police, Ajay Hari has been known to be very close to Trinamool Congress leaders. There have been allegations of sand extraction from the Ajay River in West Bengal for a long time. However, it is alleged that during the previous government’s tenure, the police and administration did not take any action against him.

According to local sources, the sand mafia in Durgapur, West Burdwan district, rose during the CPI(M) era and expanded its influence during the Trinamool era.

Ajay Hari used to illegally extract sand from the river and then smuggle it. After the Left Front government fell in 2011, his closeness to Trinamool leaders increased over the years. Since then, his wealth has also multiplied, and he has acquired assets worth crores of rupees, said the police.

A senior officer of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate said Hari owns houses, luxury cars, tractors, dumpers, sand-extraction machines and JCBs. Not only that, but he was also involved in the brick kiln business. Over time, he also built an ashram.

However, after the change of government in the state, steps have been taken to stop the illegal sand smuggling racket.

The BJP government has made it clear that no illegal or unethical practices that have been going on during the Trinamool Congress era will be tolerated.

The police have been asked to take strong measures against criminals and the mafia.

Hari had been on the run and hiding after the BJP came to power in West Bengal. However, the law finally caught up with him, and the police arrested him.

–IANS

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