The Enforcement Directorate on Sunday carried out raids on the residence of Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police Shantanu Sinha Biswas and a local businessman as part of a money laundering probe against an alleged criminal and his associated syndicate in the poll-bound state, officials said.
Two residences of Biswas, including his residence in Ballygunge district and one location of a businessman named Joy Kamdar, managing director of a company called Sun Enterprise, were raided under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Kamdar was taken by officials to the local emergency department office for questioning.
Biswas, chief coordinator and principal officer of the West Bengal and Kolkata Police Social Welfare Committee, was not present at his headquarters, they added.
The action is linked to a money laundering case against an alleged local criminal named Biswajit Podder alias Sona Babu, who has been booked in multiple cases on charges of attempt to murder and extortion.
The Federal Investigation Agency conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.
The CEO then seized cash $1.47 crore excluding gold and silver jewelery valued at Rs 1.47 crore $67.64 lakh and locally made pistols from some of the buildings searched.
The investigation stems from the Kolkata Police’s FIR against Poudhar for his alleged involvement in riots, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and violations of the Arms Act.
The accused, including Budhar, were involved in the activities of an organized criminal gang in West Bengal and illegally collected money through syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9.
Budhar is also wanted by the police in a case of violence on Kankolia Road near Goalpark in Kolkata and is currently on the run.
The Emergency Department issued summonses to Bouder, but he has failed to join the investigation so far, according to the agency.
West Bengal will hold elections in two phases on April 23 and 29.
