Kolkata, 21 April (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Singh Biswas for questioning in connection with an alleged sand smuggling case. The agency had earlier also issued him a summons in a separate land corruption matter.

According to sources, Biswas has been asked to appear at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake on Wednesday, the day of the first phase of polling in West Bengal. Former Jhargram District Magistrate Sunil Agrawal has also been summoned in the same case.

In recent weeks, the Enforcement Directorate has conducted several raids across different districts of the state as part of its investigation into the alleged sand smuggling network. However, the specific circumstances under which Biswas and Agrawal have been called for questioning are yet to be officially clarified.

Meanwhile, in a separate case involving Behala-based businessman Jay Kamdar, the agency has claimed links between Biswas, his family members and the businessman. Investigators have alleged that influence was used to help secure land for the businessman.

According to the ED, three categories of land were allegedly targeted: jointly owned properties, plots under tenancy disputes, and properties whose owners were living outside the state due to employment or other reasons.

The agency has also claimed that arrested businessman Jay Kamdar had contacts at multiple levels within the state police and Kolkata Police, including the name of Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Singh Biswas. Investigators further alleged that the businessman was also in touch with Biswas’s two sons.

The ED stated that a diary allegedly recovered during the probe contains references to gifts given to several police officers, including an entry mentioning “Shantanu Sir”. It has also been alleged that illegal construction was being carried out by Kamdar on a residential plot linked to Biswas at Fern Road.

No public response has yet been issued by Shantanu Singh Biswas regarding these allegations.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh