Sona Pappu case: Where’s Santanu Sinha Biswas, ED asks Kolkata DCP’s boss

KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has written to the state's directorate of security, seeking information on Santanu Sinha Biswas, Kolkata Police DCP, special branch (II). An ED officer said they were trying to track Biswas in Jharkhand.

On April 28, the day before the second phase of the assembly polls, ED had summoned Biswas to the CGO Complex, reportedly regarding the Sona Pappu case. But Sinha Biswas avoided appearance. Fearing Sinha Biswas might leave the country, the ED moved court and issued a lookout notice against. An officer said the central agency had written to the directorate of security due to Sinha Biswas's non-compliance with the summons order.

An officer indicated the ED now sought to know Sinha Biswas's status, his duty and current location and that the agency's intent was to ensure he appeared before its office.

Sona Pappu, a resident of Ballygunge, faces multiple allegations, including that of land grabbing and extortion, as well as charges under the Arms Act. The ED initiated a probe, based on these complaints and arrested a businessman from Behala, Joy Kamdar.

Last month, the ED raided the Fern Road residence of Sinha Biswas that continued from early morning till around 2 am. A day later, the ED summoned Sinha Biswas and his two sons, Sayantan and Manish, to the CGO Complex over the Sona Pappu case. None of them was seen at the ED office.

Also, in the first half of April, the ED summoned Sinha Biswas, who was then the OC of Kalighat PS, as part of a sand smuggling probe. The DCP did not appear though his lawyer visited the ED office. Sinha Biswas reportedly asked for more time, citing other commitments. "He was served notices to appear before the agency five times but he did not appear. Given his continued non-cooperation, he may try to evade the probe by going abroad," the officer told TOI.

TOI's calls to Sinha Biswas on Wednesday went unanswered, and Special Branch cops declined to comment if he had proceeded on leave.