The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a lookout notice against Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shantanu Sinha Biswas, according to sources familiar with the matter. The notice has been circulated across airports, railway stations, and other transit points across the country to prevent any possible attempt by Biswas to leave India.
Background of the Case
The development comes as part of an ongoing money laundering investigation being conducted by the central agency. The ED is probing allegations of financial irregularities and illegal accumulation of assets linked to Biswas and his associates. The lookout notice is a standard procedural measure to ensure the presence of the accused during the investigation and to prevent flight risk.
Details of the Notice
The lookout circular, issued under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has been shared with all immigration authorities and border control units. It directs officials to detain Biswas if he attempts to travel abroad and to inform the ED immediately. The notice is valid until further orders and covers all international and domestic travel hubs.
Biswas, a senior IPS officer, currently serves as the DCP of the Kolkata Police. He has been under the scanner of the ED for several months over his alleged involvement in a money laundering network. The agency has already conducted multiple searches at his premises and seized incriminating documents and digital evidence.
Reactions and Implications
The Kolkata Police has not yet issued an official statement on the matter. However, sources within the force indicate that Biswas is cooperating with the investigation. The ED's action is seen as a significant step in the probe, which has already led to the arrest of several individuals linked to the case.
Legal experts say the issuance of a lookout notice does not amount to an arrest but is a preventive measure to ensure the individual does not evade the investigation. Biswas can challenge the notice in court if he believes it is unjustified.
Next Steps
The ED is expected to summon Biswas for further questioning in the coming days. The agency may also seek his custody if it finds sufficient evidence of his involvement in money laundering. The case is being closely monitored by political circles in West Bengal, where the ED has been active in probing several high-profile corruption cases.
