Bengal coal smuggling case: ED arrests police officer after hours of interrogation

Kolkata, June 19 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate has arrested a police officer, Manoranjan Mondal, who had been under the scanner of the central agency for a long time because of his alleged involvement in the multi-crore coal smuggling case in West Bengal.

Mondal appeared for interrogation at the ED’s Salt Lake office on the northern outskirts of Kolkata in relation to the coal smuggling case, and after a marathon interrogation, he was finally arrested by ED officials late Thursday night, sources aware of the development said.

During the entire course of interrogation on Thursday, sources added, Mondal constantly contradicted his own statements and even refused to answer some questions fielded by the interrogating officers.

He will be presented before a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata, and the central agency counsel will seek his ED custody for further interrogation in the matter.

Mondal, attached to the Special Branch of the Asansol Durgapur Police Commissariat in West Burdwan district of West Bengal, was under the scanner of the ED for a long time because of his role in the coal smuggling case as an erstwhile officer-in-charge of the Barabani Police Station in the same district.

Mondal had ducked appearing for interrogation by the ED despite several summonses being sent to him in the past in the matter. In fact, he also went absconding for a long time.

Sources said that besides the coal smuggling case, Mondal was also under the ED’s scanner for his involvement in the illegal sand mining case.

In March this year, the ED officials conducted marathon raids and search operations at Mondal’s residence in the steel city of Durgapur in West Burdwan district.

Mondal had a controversial past and career record. In 2024, he was suspended on corruption charges. During that period, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee too had made strong remarks on the coal smuggling issue.

Following her remarks, Mondal, who was then serving as the officer-in-charge of Barabani police station, was suspended and a judicial inquiry was also initiated against him.

–IANS

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