Asansol, 11 March (H.S.) : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted a raid at the Durgapur residence of Manoranjan Mondal, former officer-in-charge of Budbud police station, in connection with an alleged coal and sand smuggling syndicate.

According to sources, a four-member ED team reached Mondal’s residence at Ambuja in the City Centre area around 7 a.m. Officials also pasted a summons notice at his residence directing him to appear before the agency.

Investigators suspect Mondal’s involvement in the operation of illegal coal and sand smuggling networks. Sources claimed that financial transactions worth around ₹150 crore have been traced to accounts linked to his wife.

The ED has directed Mondal to appear at its Kolkata office by 12:30 p.m. on March 13. Soon after officials entered the premises, central security forces cordoned off the area and restricted entry and exit from the house during the operation.

Notably, ED officials had earlier conducted a raid at Mondal’s residence on February 3, which lasted for more than ten hours. On the same day, searches were also carried out at the residences of two sand traders from Jamuria — Kiran Khan and Chinmoy Mondal. Several important documents were reportedly seized during those searches.

Based on the findings, the ED had summoned both Khan and Mondal to its CGO Complex office in Kolkata, where they were questioned for several hours. They are currently in judicial custody in connection with the case.

Sources further said that the ED had issued summons to Manoranjan Mondal three times within a month asking him to appear for questioning at the CGO Complex. However, he reportedly failed to appear citing health issues and is currently stated to be absconding.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh