Kolkata: In a major development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas in connection with a fraud and extortion case on Thursday. He was taken in custody after a few hours of questioning at the agency office.
Sharing details, the ED said that Biswas was questioned on the ongoing probe related to alleged land grabbing, extortion and financial irregularities linked to the network of Sona Pappu. Officials claimed that Biswas avoided giving direct replies and was not cooperating with the probe.
Shantanu Sinha Biswas questioned in connection with financial irregularities
“Shantanu Sinha Biswas was questioned in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged land grabbing, extortion and financial irregularities linked to the Sona Pappu network. He repeatedly avoided giving direct replies and did not cooperate with the investigation,” news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. The officer added, “Based on the material collected and his conduct during questioning, he was placed under arrest.”
Biswas is at the moment posted in the Security Control division of Kolkata Police. Earlier in the day, he had avoided the agency after avoiding several summons earlier. The agency had issued a lookout circular against him. The agency is probing his links with businessman Joy Kamdar, who is considered close to Sona Pappu, in a fraud case, officials said.
ED officials placed several WhatsApp chats before Biswas
During the questioning, ED officials also placed before him several WhatsApp chats that were recovered during the investigation. While he has been under the scanner in various cases, ED suspects his connection with Sona Pappu, a criminal, who is allegedly involved in land grabbing, extortion and other cases. “Despite repeated opportunities, he failed to join the investigation meaningfully. Further custodial interrogation is required to ascertain the larger conspiracy and financial trail,” the official added.