The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a first supplementary prosecution complaint against Odisha-based stone miner Ratikanta Rout in a money laundering investigation linked to alleged illegal quarrying and mineral theft. According to the agency, Rout and associated entities allegedly generated more than ₹341 crore in proceeds of crime through unauthorised mining and related transactions. The complaint was filed before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in Bhubaneswar. Rout was arrested on 20 August 2026. The allegations will be examined through the judicial process.
ED Files Chargesheet Against Odisha Stone Miner Ratikant Rout in ₹341 Crore Illegal Mining Case
Ratikant Rout was arrested in August this year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case related to alleged money laundering in Odisha in connection with illegal mining and mineral theft. Now, the ED has filed a chargesheet against him.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a chargesheet against the Odisha stone miner in the Ratikant Rout illegal mining case, taking the case forward by accusing money laundering from proceeds of unauthorized mineral extraction. The agency announced the development on Wednesday, almost two months after Rout’s arrest on 20 August 2026.
As per the ED, Rout and associated entities allegedly generated and acquired proceeds of crime to the tune of over ₹341 crore through illegal mining and theft of minerals. The allegations are under judicial scrutiny, and the chargesheet is the agency’s case against the accused.
Ratikant Rout Illegal Mining Case Centres on Unauthorised Quarrying
The ED claimed that Rout held a minor lease of a mineral quarry in the Dhenkanal district but mined far beyond the permitted limits. He was also accused of extracting minerals from unauthorised areas, allegedly making large proceeds through violations of mining permissions, investigators said.
The agency is probing the alleged laundering of proceeds of illegal mining into assets. Under India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), authorities have the power to investigate and prosecute the laundering of proceeds of crime related to scheduled offences, subject to certain legal requirements.
This chargesheet is an important procedural development in the case, but it does not establish guilt. “The court will use the judicial process to examine the evidence and arguments presented in an effort to decide if there is any criminal liability.
Also Read: CMRL-Exalogic Case Focuses on Mohammed Riyas’s Foreign Transactions
ED Searches and the 2025 CBI Bribery Case
The probe goes back to January 8, 2025, when the ED conducted searches at several premises linked to Rout. The searches were part of the agency's efforts to investigate suspected illegal mining and associated financial transactions.
In a separate development, on 29 May 2025, a complaint by Rout subsequently led to a trap operation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The operation led to the arrest of Chintan Raghuvanshi, then an ED deputy director posted in Bhubaneswar.
Raghuvanshi was arrested on 30 May 2025 for allegedly taking a bribe of ₹20 lakh from Rout, the report said. The alleged payment was said to be to buy relief for Rout in the investigation.
The bribery allegations are a separate issue in the larger case, which involves alleged misconduct by an enforcement official. The ED's money laundering case against Rout should be bifurcated from the allegations against Raghuvanshi, as each case involves different allegations and different legal proceedings.
What the Chargesheet Means for the Investigation
The ED’s latest move highlights the alleged ₹341 crore proceeds of crime at the core of the prosecution’s case. The chargesheet is likely to detail the charges levelled by the agency and the evidence it plans to place before a court.
The case also reflects the challenges that authorities encounter in investigating suspected illegal mineral extraction, including establishing the extent of unauthorised mining and tracing financial gains allegedly derived from it.
Further proceedings will determine how the evidence is assessed and whether the allegations can be established in court. Sprouts News will continue to follow developments in the case, including judicial proceedings and any subsequent action by the investigating agencies.
