Kolkata, 13 August (H.S.): Birbhum's alleged sand mafia Tulu Mondal has received no immediate relief from the Calcutta High Court in his legal battle against an arrest warrant issued against him. Justice Kaushik Chand on Thursday recused himself from hearing Mondal's petition, citing the pendency of a related matter before another bench of the High Court.

Justice Chand observed that since a connected petition was already pending before a different bench, all related petitions should ideally be heard by the same bench. Following the observation, Mondal's petition was placed before the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya.

Mondal has been evading arrest since the recovery of approximately Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold from the residence of his relative, Minar Mondal, in Deucha village under the Mohammad Bazar police station area of Birbhum. During the investigation, the authorities also reportedly traced substantial assets linked to Mondal, several of which have already been seized.

Despite the police investigation, Mondal has not yet been arrested.

While evading arrest, Mondal had earlier approached the High Court seeking protection from arrest. His plea seeking such protection was heard by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya's bench. He subsequently filed another petition challenging the arrest warrant issued against him.

On Thursday, Mondal sought urgent hearing of the warrant challenge before Justice Kaushik Chand's bench. However, with a related matter already pending before Justice Bhattacharyya's bench, Justice Chand recused himself from the case. Mondal had also challenged the process of seizure of his properties before the same bench, but no immediate relief was granted in that matter either.

Meanwhile, apart from the arrest warrant, an Interpol Red Corner Notice has also reportedly been issued against Mondal. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) court in Suri has directed him to appear before the court by 10:30 a.m. on Friday. If he fails to appear personally within the stipulated time, he could potentially be declared a proclaimed offender, subject to the court's proceedings.

The administration also pasted a notice at Mondal's residence in the Subhaspalli area of Suri on Thursday morning in connection with the court's direction. Mondal approached the High Court shortly thereafter. However, he failed to secure any immediate protection from arrest or relief in connection with the property seizure proceedings.

The focus has now shifted to Friday's court proceedings and whether Mondal will comply with the Suri court's direction and appear before it.

Mondal's relative Minar Mondal was arrested following the recovery of the cash and gold from his residence. Subsequently, several other people allegedly linked to Tulu Mondal were also arrested. Police are questioning them in an attempt to trace Mondal's whereabouts.

According to local sources, Mondal has been absconding since the results of the Assembly elections were announced. He has reportedly not been seen in the area since then. Police have so far been unable to ascertain his current whereabouts and have conducted searches at the residences of his in-laws, relatives and close associates as part of the investigation.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh