Kolkata, 15 July (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a fresh money laundering investigation against former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas over allegations that he earned illegal commissions by influencing the transfer and posting of subordinate police officers.

The new probe is separate from the agency's ongoing investigation into a multi-crore land-grabbing case, in which the ED recently filed a supplementary chargesheet against Sinha Biswas before a special PMLA court in Kolkata.

According to ED sources, the agency is examining allegations that Sinha Biswas manipulated the postings of sub-inspectors, inspectors and assistant commissioners to strategically place trusted officers in key police stations. Investigators suspect this helped strengthen the alleged land-grabbing and real estate syndicate while also generating illegal commission through lucrative postings.

The ED is also investigating whether Sinha Biswas misused his official position to pressure landowners into selling properties at throwaway prices to real estate developers. Investigators claim he personally received around Rs 3 crore from the alleged land-grabbing network.

The agency has collected bank records, digital evidence, official documents and witness statements as part of the investigation. The supplementary chargesheet also names alleged land mafia Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu and real estate promoter Jay Kamdar, accusing them of conspiring with Sinha Biswas to illegally acquire land.

The investigation is continuing.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey