Kolkata, 13 August (H.S.) : The administration has pasted a court appearance notice at the residence of alleged stone mafia operator Tulu Mandal, alias Najibuddin, in Birbhum’s Siuri, directing him to appear in person before the Siuri court by 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

An arrest warrant has already been issued against Mandal, while an Interpol Red Corner Notice was also issued against him. The latest notice, pasted at his residence in the Subhashpally area of Siuri, warns that failure to appear before the court within the stipulated time could result in him being declared a proclaimed offender.

Mandal remains absconding, and investigators have so far been unable to ascertain his whereabouts. Against this backdrop, administrative officials reached his residence in Subhashpally at around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday and pasted the court-issued appearance notice.

Along with the English-language notice, officials also pasted a separate “special proclamation” in Bengali. It stated that despite an arrest warrant being issued against Mandal in connection with allegations including organised crime, destruction of evidence and criminal breach of trust, he could not be traced. The proclamation alleged that he was evading arrest by remaining in hiding.

The Siuri court has accordingly identified Mandal as an absconder and directed him to appear in person before the court by 10:30 a.m. on Friday.

Following the issuance of the arrest warrant, police and administrative authorities had planned to paste notices and make public announcements at various locations. As part of the process, an announcement was made in the stone quarry areas on Wednesday informing people about the court’s direction for Mandal to appear. A notice was subsequently pasted at his residence in Subhashpally on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, police have intensified searches to trace Mandal’s properties and other assets. Raids are being conducted at multiple locations, while investigators are also visiting the residences of his relatives and close associates as part of the probe.

An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against Mandal on Tuesday. On the same day, Special Public Prosecutor Vibhas Chattopadhyay said that if Mandal failed to appear before the court, he could be declared a proclaimed offender. The authorities could thereafter initiate proceedings for attachment of his properties.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh