Ex-Kolkata Police DCP Biswas interfered in police probe: ED in chargesheet

New Delhi, Jul 16 (PTI) Former Kolkata Police DCP Santanu Sinha Biswas "actively interfered" in police investigations and earned an "illegal" monetary benefit of Rs 2.89 crore through alleged criminal activities, the ED has said in a chargesheet. The central agency said in a statement on Thursday that it filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against Biswas on July 10 in the court of the chief judge in Kolkata's City Sessions Court. Biswas was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in May in a money-laundering case related to alleged criminal operative Biswajit Podder alias Sona Pappu, whom the Kolkata Police has booked on charges of attempt to murder, rioting and extortion. The agency also arrested Podder in May, apart from Jay S Kamdar, a local businessman and the managing director of Sun Enterprise. The ED filed a chargesheet against Kamdar in June. Biswas, the ED alleged, "utilised" Kamdar as a highly-influential proxy and intermediary who helped manage transfer and posting offers on his behalf and enjoyed massive clout within the police establishment through his association with him. "Biswas actively interfered in police investigations, thereby exerting influence in the matters of law enforcement. "He was also enriching himself and his family members by getting expensive gifts from Kamdar and his family in lieu of extending him illegal help in police matters, including but not limited to FIRs," it said. The agency further claimed that Biswas undertook "expensive" construction and renovation of a property in Murshidabad district's Kandi by infusing proceeds of crime. The ED claimed that it has unearthed residential properties located in and around Kolkata, acquired in the names of certain individuals or companies that are "beneficially owned" by Biswas and his family members. Biswas, directly or indirectly, has derived monetary benefits aggregating at least Rs 2.89 crore from criminal activities, it alleged. PTI MHS NES RC