Kolkata, August 12: A Red Corner Notice has been issued against Tulu Mandal, a stone quarry businessman from Birbhum district in West Bengal. He is accused of being involved in corruption during the previous Trinamool Congress government. Currently, police have no leads on his whereabouts.
An FIR has already been filed against Mandal, and investigative agencies are seeking to question him. Due to his absconding status, police approached the court for assistance.
On Monday, the government submitted a request to issue a Red Corner Notice against Mandal. The Suri court in Birbhum approved this request on Tuesday.
Government lawyer Vibhav Chatterjee stated that Mandal has been given until Friday, August 14, to appear in court. If he fails to do so, he will be declared a proclaimed offender.
Recently, police recovered ₹28.5 crore in cash from the home of Mandal’s relative, Meenar Mandal, in Deucha village, located in the Mohammad Bazaar police station area of Birbhum. Approximately 15 kilograms of gold were also found. Since then, investigative agencies have intensified their surveillance on Tulu Mandal.
Police are conducting ongoing raids and searches to trace his assets. Investigations are also being carried out at the homes of his relatives and close associates.
The government lawyer indicated that if Mandal does not appear in court, he will be declared a proclaimed offender, which would initiate the process of seizing his assets.
Mandal is alleged to have evaded around ₹3,000 crore in revenue over the past five years.
On Monday, police arrested Ripon Mandal, a relative of Tulu Mandal, after raiding his home in Ausgram, located in the Purba Bardhaman district. He was presented in the Suri court on Tuesday.
Police also presented two other arrested suspects, Sheikh Riyazul Islam and Sheikh Noor Alam, in court and requested their custody. The court has remanded all three suspects to ten days of police custody.
All of the accused are reportedly linked to an alleged stone syndicate.
The defense attorney argued that only their clients are being implicated in this case and called for an investigation into the roles of officials who were in administrative positions at the time.
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