Kolkata, Sept. 22 -- The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday declined to interfere with an arrest warrant issued against stonetrader Tulu Mondal by a Suri court in connection with a criminal investigation into alleged organised crime and suspected proceeds of crime.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya found no infirmity in the July 30 warrant or the subsequent order requiring Mondal to appear before the Magistrate. The court was hearing Mondal's challenge to the proceedings.
The state, in a sealed report, told the court that the investigation had led to the recovery of Rs 28.53 crore in cash and five kilograms of gold bars suspected to be proceeds of crime. Investigators also recovered electronic and documentary material which, according to the State, pointed towards an organised crime network and the movement of substantial funds.
The state said investigators learnt through NATGRID that Mondal had left India on May 23. The prosecution case was registered only on July 30, following which investigators approached the Suri court for the warrant. Mondal did not appear before the Magistrate on August 7, leading to a proclamation directing him to appear on September 14.
Mondal's counsel said his client cannot be described as absconding since he had left India before the case was registered. He also expressed apprehension that Mondal would be arrested if he returned to Suri.
Additional Advocate General Bilwadal Bhattacharya, however, said the investigation indicated that Mondal continued to influence the alleged syndicate remotely.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.