Kolkata DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas Arrested By ED Over Extortion Charges

Kolkata: Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shantanu Sinha Biswas, a senior officer long seen as close to former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was arrested on Wednesday by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged extortion racket. DCP Biswas was arrested after months of legal wrangling and repeated attempts by the agency to secure his cooperation.

According to reports, Shantanu Biswas had failed to appear for several summons issued by the ED, prompting the investigating agency to issue a lookout notice against him. He eventually presented himself for questioning on Wednesday, days after the Mamata government was toppled in West Bengal by the BJP. However, the ED officials stated that his responses during interrogation raised further concerns. As per the agency, he concealed material facts and did not cooperate with the probe.

The ED alleged that the police official was operating an extortion network in collusion with notorious criminal ‘Sona Pappu’ and Jai Kamdar, managing director of Sun Enterprises. The agency contended that the trio used their positions and contacts to extort money, though specific details of the alleged transactions remain under investigation.

Arrest After Months Of Evasion

As per officials, the case against Shantanu Sinha Biswas has been building for some time, with the ED issuing multiple summons that went unheeded. The investigating officials stated that the repeated non-compliance left them with little choice but to issue a lookout notice, effectively restricting his movement and pressuring him to appear.

The officials asserted that when he finally arrived for questioning, his conduct during the session fell short of what was expected. “He concealed facts during interrogation and was not cooperating with the investigation, leading to the ED’s arrest,” a source familiar with the proceedings said. The central agency has not disclosed the exact charges on which he was formally taken into custody.

The investigation revolved around the allegations of Shantanu Sinha Biswas’s alleged dealings with ‘Sona Pappu’, who is termed a notorious criminal by the police, and Jai Kamdar, who heads Sun Enterprises. The ED claimed that the 3 men worked together to run an extortion racket, though the full scope of the operation and the sums involved have not been made public.

Alleged Links To Criminal Network

The investigating agency is now expected to question Shantanu Sinha Biswas further to trace the flow of funds and establish the extent of his involvement. Meanwhile, the arrest is Likely to have political consequences in West Bengal, given the police official's perceived proximity to the state’s ruling establishment.

The ED has not issued a formal statement beyond confirming the arrest, and Shantanu's legal team has yet to comment publicly. The case will now move to the courts, where the agency is expected to seek further remand to continue its investigation.

Following the change in the ruling dispensation in West Bengal, the fresh development was one of the most high-profile actions against a serving police officer in Kolkata in recent years, and is expected to intensify scrutiny of alleged links between law enforcement and criminal networks in the state.