Kolkata, 20 August (H.S.) : Birbhum-based stone businessman Tulu Mondal suffered a major setback on Thursday after the Calcutta High Court rejected his plea seeking protection from arrest. A bench headed by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya refused to interfere with the ongoing police investigation and observed that the probe should continue.

During the hearing, senior advocate Dushyant Dave, appearing for Mondal, argued that keeping cash and gold at home does not constitute an offence under the Indian Penal Code and that any issue relating to such assets could be dealt with under income tax laws. Justice Bhattacharyya, however, observed that the amount of cash recovered was not insignificant but substantial.

Mondal’s counsel also questioned the invocation of provisions relating to organised crime in connection with the recovery of cash and gold. The court said that if there was any objection to the sections applied, the petitioner could approach the magistrate’s court.

Justice Bhattacharyya made it clear that the court was of the view that the investigation should proceed and that it would not be appropriate to interfere with the work of the investigating officers.

During the hearing, the state government also submitted a confidential report related to the case. Additional Advocate General Bilwadal Bhattacharyya requested that the contents of the report not be made public. The judge examined the report.

The case relates to the recent recovery of around Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold from the house of Minar Mondal, a relative of Tulu Mondal, in Deucha village under Mohammad Bazar Police Station in Birbhum. Police arrested Minar Mondal, while Tulu could not be traced. Several properties allegedly linked to him have also been seized.

Fearing arrest, Tulu Mondal had earlier approached the bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya seeking protection. He later moved another bench headed by Justice Kaushik Chanda, challenging the arrest warrant and questioning the process of property seizure. However, Justice Chanda recused himself from the matter as a related case was already pending before another bench.

An arrest warrant has been issued against Tulu Mondal, and an Interpol Red Corner Notice has also reportedly been issued against him. The Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s Court in Suri had directed him to appear before the court by Friday morning. Failure to comply with the order within the stipulated time could result in him being declared a proclaimed offender.

Mondal had approached the High Court in an attempt to secure protection from arrest. However, with the court rejecting his plea, his legal troubles have intensified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh