The West Bengal government has terminated the services of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner, Shantanu Sinha Biswas, who was arrested by officials of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). This action is linked to money laundering and land-related syndicate cases involving a notorious absconding history-sheeter. Biswas, who had been granted a two-year extension beyond the retirement age of 60 by the previous government, saw his extended service terminated following his arrest by the ED and in accordance with the new government’s decision to end extensions for state employees.
Despite reaching the retirement age and being extended, Sinha Biswas did not have the chance to resign but had his service terminated by the state government. The ED had interrogated him for over 10 hours before his arrest in connection with a money laundering and land syndicate case involving Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu. Additionally, the ED had issued a lookout notice against him when he went missing after receiving multiple interrogation notices.
Sources indicate that 12 other Kolkata police officers, who were closely associated with Sinha Biswas, are now under ED scrutiny for their involvement in the same money laundering and land syndicate case. This nexus, involving Sinha Biswas, real estate promoter Joy Kamdar, and others, operated by acquiring disputed land parcels at low prices through illegal means and utilizing them in real estate ventures. The group allegedly used false FIRs to pressure original landowners into selling properties at undervalued rates for their benefit.
