Kolkata, April 22 (IANS) Despite being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police Shantanu Sinha Biswas did not appear before the agency’s officials on Wednesday in connection with an ongoing investigation into a sand smuggling case linked to alleged financial irregularities.

However, according to ED officials, he has sought time from the central investigation agency by sending his lawyer to the ED office to communicate his inability to appear on the scheduled date.

Last Sunday, the ED had conducted raids at the residence of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas as part of its investigation into a money-laundering case involving an alleged criminal-linked syndicate operating in parts of the city. Since then, the police officer has not appeared in public, adding to the developments surrounding the ongoing probe.

The ED had earlier summoned Sinha, who is a former Officer-in-Charge of Kalighat Police Station, to its office at the Central Government Office (CGO) Complex in Salt Lake on Wednesday for questioning in connection with the case. However, he did not appear in person. Instead, his lawyer visited the ED office on his behalf.

According to sources in the agency, Shantanu Sinha Biswas has sought time citing his busy schedule and has requested a fresh date for appearance before the central agency for questioning.

The ED is currently investigating allegations of financial misappropriation and irregularities linked to a sand smuggling case, and it is learnt that officials of the agency intend to question Sinha in connection with various aspects of the case and his alleged links, if any, to the wider network under investigation.

The ED on Sunday arrested Kolkata-based businessman Joy Kamdar after conducting raids against him as well as against Shantanu Sinha Biswas as part of a money-laundering probe into an alleged criminal-linked syndicate. Kamdar, who is the Managing Director of Sun Enterprise, was taken into custody after nearly four hours of questioning, ED officials said.

Earlier in the day, ED officials had conducted a raid at Kamdar’s residence in Behala. The agency had also carried out search operations at two premises linked to Shantanu Sinha Biswas in the Ballygunge area of south Kolkata as part of the same coordinated operation.

The raids were conducted as part of the investigation into a money-laundering case linked to Sona Pappu, who has been booked in multiple criminal cases on charges including attempted murder and extortion, an ED official said.

Sona Pappu is alleged to run criminal syndicates in the south Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs registered against him over a range of allegations. He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February and remains absconding at present.

He has, from time to time, appeared live on social media platforms, targeting the central investigation agency and accusing it of harassing his family members.

Based on leads emerging from the case related to Sona Pappu, the ED had raided the residence of Shantanu Sinha Biswas. The search operation began in the morning hours and continued till late at night, with investigating officers leaving the premises after midnight.

Shantanu Sinha Biswas was not seen in public during the course of the operation. The day after the search, the ED had summoned him along with his two sons, Sayantan and Manish, to appear at the CGO Complex in connection with the Sona Pappu case on Monday. None of them were seen appearing before the ED on that day.

This time as well, Shantanu Sinha Biswas did not appear before the ED office in connection with the sand smuggling case and instead sought time through his legal representative.

–IANS

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