DCP Shantanu Biswas arrives at ED office after facing lookout notice

After evading multiple summons and facing a nationwide lookout notice, Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas finally appeared at the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office on Thursday morning. The senior officer, who once oversaw the high-profile Kalighat area, has been under intense scrutiny for his alleged links to organized crime and financial irregularities. His appearance follows a period of non-cooperation where he repeatedly cited official commitments to avoid questioning, leading the central agency to circulate his details across airports and transit points to prevent him from leaving the country.

The investigation centers on Biswas’s purported association with Biswajit Poddar, alias Sona Pappu, a notorious figure accused of leading an organized criminal network involved in land grabbing, extortion, and arms act violations. ED investigators reportedly found evidence of a money trail and frequent bank transactions between the police officer and the history-sheeter. Furthermore, Biswas is being questioned regarding his suspected role in the recovery of weapons from Sona Pappu’s residence and separate allegations of involvement in a large-scale sand smuggling syndicate.

The pressure on the DCP mounted significantly after ED officials conducted an extensive 20-hour raid on his Fern Road residence in Ballygunge during the recent assembly election period. The search, which lasted until 2:00 AM, led to the summoning of his two sons, Sayantan and Manish, though they initially failed to appear. While Biswas previously sent legal counsel to represent him, the ED’s move to court and the subsequent lookout circular essentially forced a personal appearance as the agency seeks to trace how extortion money was funneled to influential individuals.