Corruption case filed against ex-Kolkata DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas over ₹2.80 crore
Synopsis
A fresh Prevention of Corruption Act complaint alleging ₹2.80 crore in illicit financial gains has been filed against former Kolkata DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas — already in ED custody over a ₹50 crore land-grabbing case. The complaint adds salary payments to his wife, anonymous flat purchases, and cash receipts from arrested businessman Joy Kamdar to a ballooning list of charges.
Key Takeaways
A fresh complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was filed against former Kolkata DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas at Gariahat police station on 16 September 2026 .
The complaint alleges financial benefits totalling ₹2.80 crore received in cash or as gifts.
Specific allegations include ₹74.36 lakh salary to his wife, ₹82 lakh anonymous flat purchases, and ₹13 lakh received from arrested businessman Joy Kamdar .
Biswas is already in ED custody over a land-grabbing case in which the agency alleged embezzlement of ₹3 crore and total land-grabbing proceeds of around ₹50 crore .
He is currently lodged at Midnapore Central Correctional Facility ; co-accused Joy Kamdar and Biswajit Poddar (alias Sona Pappu) are also in judicial custody.
A fresh corruption complaint has been lodged against former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, at Gariahat police station in south Kolkata, police confirmed on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The complaint accuses Biswas of misusing his official position to amass financial benefits allegedly totalling ₹2.80 crore, received either in cash or as gifts.
Key Allegations in the Complaint
The complaint lays out several specific instances of alleged financial misconduct. According to police, Biswas' wife reportedly received ₹74.36 lakh as salary from a company. He is also alleged to have anonymously purchased two flats worth ₹82 lakh, and allegedly used his influence to facilitate the withdrawal of ₹20.27 lakh towards his son's college fees.
In another instance cited in the complaint, ₹61 lakh was reportedly received under the guise of repairing a house in the Kandi area of Murshidabad district. Biswas is further alleged to have collected ₹10 lakh on one occasion and ₹15 lakh on another from various organisations in exchange for extending benefits to them.
Fresh Charge Linked to Arrested Businessman Joy Kamdar
A key new allegation in the complaint is that Biswas reportedly received ₹13 lakh from arrested businessman Joy Kamdar, partly in cash and partly as gifts. He is additionally accused of taking ₹2 lakh from Kamdar to purchase gifts for his wife. Kamdar is currently in judicial custody and is already named as an accused in a related land-grabbing case.
Biswas Already in ED Custody Over Land-Grabbing Case
This complaint adds to Biswas' existing legal troubles. He was previously arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a separate land-grabbing case and is currently lodged at the Midnapore Central Correctional Facility in West Midnapore district. The ED filed a charge sheet against him last July, alleging he embezzled ₹3 crore. His name surfaced during the investigation into land-grabbing allegations against Sona Pappu, alias Biswajit Poddar, who is also in judicial custody.
According to ED sources, the three accused — Biswas, Poddar, and Kamdar — allegedly used illegal means to seize land and harassed landowners through their influence. Complaints were filed against them at multiple police stations across Kolkata. The ED has claimed that approximately ₹50 crore was allegedly siphoned off through land-grabbing operations across different parts of the city.
Mounting Legal Pressure on Former Officer
The fresh Prevention of Corruption Act complaint marks a significant escalation in the legal proceedings against Biswas. Notably, the case now spans two parallel tracks — the ED's money laundering and land-grabbing proceedings, and the newly filed corruption complaint at Gariahat. This pattern of compounding charges is consistent with how financial crime investigations in India tend to unfold, with initial enforcement action often preceding a broader police case.
With all three accused in judicial custody, further developments in both proceedings are expected in the weeks ahead as investigators consolidate evidence.
Point of View
While Biswas is already in ED custody, suggests investigators are building a multi-agency case designed to close off bail routes and widen asset recovery. What stands out is the breadth of alleged beneficiaries — a wife on a company payroll, anonymous property purchases, a son's tuition fees — pointing to a systemic use of official position rather than isolated transgressions. West Bengal's policing establishment has faced recurring scrutiny over officers with disproportionate assets, and this case could intensify demands for a structural audit of property and income disclosures across the force. The ₹50 crore land-grabbing figure, if proven, would rank among the larger financial crime cases involving a serving police officer in recent state history.
NationPress
16 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Shantanu Sinha Biswas and what is he accused of?
Shantanu Sinha Biswas is a former Deputy Commissioner of the Kolkata Police. He faces a fresh complaint under the Prevention of Corruption Act alleging misuse of his official position to receive financial benefits totalling ₹2.80 crore, and is separately in ED custody over a ₹50 crore land-grabbing case.
What are the specific financial allegations in the new corruption complaint?
The complaint alleges that Biswas' wife received ₹74.36 lakh as company salary, that he anonymously purchased two flats worth ₹82 lakh, facilitated withdrawal of ₹20.27 lakh for his son's college fees, received ₹61 lakh for house repairs in Murshidabad, collected ₹25 lakh from various organisations, and received ₹13 lakh from arrested businessman Joy Kamdar partly in cash and partly as gifts.
What is the land-grabbing case against Biswas?
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Biswas in connection with a land-grabbing case involving Biswajit Poddar (alias Sona Pappu) and businessman Joy Kamdar. The ED filed a charge sheet last July alleging embezzlement of ₹3 crore and claims approximately ₹50 crore was siphoned through land-grabbing across Kolkata.
Where is Shantanu Sinha Biswas currently held?
Biswas is currently lodged at the Midnapore Central Correctional Facility in West Midnapore district. His co-accused, Joy Kamdar and Biswajit Poddar, are also in judicial custody.
How does the new complaint differ from the existing ED case?
The ED case relates to money laundering and land-grabbing under financial crime statutes, while the new complaint at Gariahat police station specifically invokes the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, which targets misuse of public office for personal gain. The two proceedings run on parallel tracks and together cover a wider set of alleged offences.
