The Calcutta High Court on Thursday, 20 August rejected a petition filed by absconding stone quarry owner Tulu Mondal, also known as Mohammad Najibuddinan, who had sought interim protection from coercive police action — including arrest — in a case where he stands accused of illegally amassing disproportionate wealth. The petition was dismissed by a single-judge bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya, who ruled that the court would not interfere with the ongoing investigation.

What the Court Said

Justice Bhattacharya, in a notably sharp observation, compared Tulu Mondal to Indrajit (Meghanad) of the Ramayana — a figure who wielded power while remaining concealed — remarking that Mondal appeared to be 'operating like Meghanad by keeping an eye on everything from behind the clouds.' The judge further noted that the money involved was 'quite massive' and that the investigation must be allowed to proceed without judicial interference.

When Tulu's counsel argued that holding cash and gold at home did not constitute an offence under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and that action, if any, should lie under the Income Tax Act, the court responded that if there were objections to the sections imposed, the petitioner's counsel could approach the concerned magistrate directly.

The Wealth Recovery That Triggered the Case

Tulu came under the scanner of both the Birbhum District Police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after a raid earlier this month on the residence of his close relative, Minar Mondal, yielded cash worth ₹28 crore and 15 kilograms of gold with an estimated market value of approximately ₹22 crore — a combined haul of around ₹50 crore. During interrogation, Minar reportedly admitted that the seized assets belonged to Tulu and that he had merely been entrusted with their safekeeping.

Since Tulu has remained at large, a 'Hulia' — a court-issued fugitive notice — was obtained from a district court in Birbhum last week, followed by the issuance of a red-corner notice against him. Tulu subsequently moved the Calcutta High Court from an undisclosed location through his counsel, seeking the interim protection that has now been denied.

A Confidential Police Report and State's Stand

The state police submitted a confidential report in the matter during Thursday's hearing. Additional Advocate General Bilbad Bhattacharya requested the court to ensure the report was not disclosed beyond the courtroom. Justice Bhattacharya read the report during the proceedings. The state's position reinforced the argument that the investigation must continue unhindered.

Background: Rise, Connections, and Prior Scrutiny

Tulu Mondal's trajectory is striking. He reportedly began life as a daily wage earner before witnessing a rapid accumulation of wealth during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, allegedly as a close associate of Anubrata Mondal, the former district president of Trinamool in Birbhum.

Anubrata Mondal had himself spent months in custody after being arrested first by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and subsequently by the ED in connection with the multi-crore cattle smuggling scam. He is currently aligned with a rebel-majority faction within Trinamool led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Tulu's name had surfaced in that same 2022 cattle smuggling case, during which the ED had raided his residence and office.

The ED is now initiating the preparatory steps for a fresh probe against Tulu, with central agency officials currently gathering information from the Birbhum District Police. This marks the second time in three years that Tulu has drawn simultaneous scrutiny from both state police and central investigative agencies.

What Happens Next

With the Calcutta High Court declining to shield him from arrest, Tulu Mondal faces the prospect of imminent detention if and when he surfaces. The ED's parallel probe could add money-laundering charges to the existing state police case. Legal observers note that the court's refusal to interfere signals that the judiciary is unlikely to serve as a buffer for those evading due process — a message with broader implications for similar cases in West Bengal.