The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a new investigation against former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas for allegedly influencing the transfer and posting of junior-ranking police officers for personal gain. This inquiry is separate from the ongoing probe into his suspected involvement in a multi-crore land-grabbing case. ED recently filed a supplementary chargesheet against him in a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata.
Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the ED’s latest investigation focuses on complaints accusing Sinha Biswas of manipulating transfers and postings of sub-inspectors, inspectors, and assistant commissioner-level officers. The agency is examining whether Sinha Biswas used these strategic placements to strengthen his control over a lucrative land-grabbing and real estate syndicate. Additionally, investigators are looking into the financial gains he may have accrued through facilitating favorable postings for his subordinates.
The ED’s inquiry is approaching the case from two angles. Firstly, it aims to determine if Sinha Biswas exploited his influence to secure prime positions for his trusted officers, thereby consolidating his hold over the alleged land-grabbing network. Secondly, investigators are calculating the commission earnings he allegedly received by orchestrating advantageous postings for his subordinates. The agency has gathered various evidence, including documents, bank records, digital data, and testimonies, to unravel the intricate workings of this network.
In a recent development, a supplementary chargesheet was filed against Sinha Biswas, along with alleged land mafia Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu and real-estate promoter Jay Kamdar, in connection with illegal land-grabbing activities. The ED has emphasized that Sinha Biswas misused his authority as a former DCP and a close associate of the former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to coerce landowners into selling their properties at undervalued rates for real estate ventures. Initial estimates suggest that Sinha Biswas personally profited approximately Rs 3 crore from this illicit land acquisition scheme.
The supplementary chargesheet also implicates Sona Pappu, Jay Kamdar, and Sinha Biswas in a conspiracy to unlawfully seize land. The ED’s investigation underscores not only financial impropriety but also concerns regarding abuse of administrative power in this case. The agency continues to delve into the intricate details of the network’s operations through the analysis of collected evidence.
