<h1>Illegal Sand Mining Scam Causing Rs 131 Crore Loss, ED Seeks Fresh FIR Under Relevant Laws</h1> The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alerted the Bihar government to an alleged Rs 131 crore illegal sand mining scam involving a company holding exclusive excavation rights in a district between 2015 and 2021. Initial police investigations led to multiple FIRs and charges under various IPC sections and mining and environmental laws. However, the criminal case was compounded in a 2023 Lok Adalat proceeding, resulting in the accused paying a penalty and avoiding prosecution. The ED's money laundering probe, dependent on a predicate offence, was stalled due to this compounding. The ED recently submitted a geospatial report indicating nearly 12 crore cubic meters of sand were illegally excavated beyond lease areas, causing substantial revenue loss. The agency has requested the state police to file a fresh FIR under relevant criminal laws to enable prosecution, citing evidence including a money trail suggesting involvement of certain politicians and associates.