The Enforcement Directorate has apprehended Manoranjan Mondal, a police officer, who has been a subject of investigation by the central agency due to his alleged involvement in a significant coal smuggling case in West Bengal. Mondal was taken into custody after a prolonged interrogation at the ED’s Salt Lake office in Kolkata. Throughout the questioning, Mondal reportedly contradicted his own statements and declined to respond to certain queries posed by the interrogators.
He is scheduled to appear before a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata, where the ED will request his custody for further questioning. Mondal, previously stationed at the Special Branch of the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissariat, has been on the ED’s radar for his role in the coal smuggling case during his tenure as the officer-in-charge of the Barabani Police Station.
Apart from the coal smuggling probe, Mondal is also being investigated by the ED for his alleged involvement in an illegal sand mining case. Earlier this year, ED officials conducted extensive raids at Mondal’s residence in Durgapur. Mondal’s history includes a suspension in 2024 on corruption charges, following strong comments by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the coal smuggling issue. Subsequently, Mondal, who was then heading the Barabani police station, was suspended, and a judicial inquiry was initiated against him.
