Ex-cop Manoranjan Mondal arrested by ED in Bengal coal smuggling scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former police officer Manoranjan Mondal in the coal smuggling scam. | Photo credit: The Hindu

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former police officer Manoranjan Mondal in a coal smuggling scam in West Bengal, officials said on Friday (Jun 19, 2026). Mr. Mondal has been under the scanner of the central agency for a long time.

The former head of the Barabani police station was arrested by officers of the central agency late on Thursday (June 18, 2026) after hours of questioning at the CGO complex in Salt Lake, just outside Kolkata.

Previously, even after repeated summons, he did not appear for questioning.

According to sources, ED officials found many discrepancies in his statements during interrogation and the officer failed to provide satisfactory answers on several financial transactions.

The officer was suspended from office in 2024 on further allegations of corruption.

The arrest was made in connection with an ongoing investigation into a coal smuggling network. He was produced at Bankshall Court on Friday.

The former MLA was accused of rape

Former Trinamool Congress MLA Saokat Molla has faced fresh charges and has been charged with rape, police officials said on Friday. This happened after a woman accused him of sexual abuse and blackmail for several years and filed an official complaint.

A case was registered at Jibantala police station in South 24 Parganas earlier this week. The allegations date back to 2019.

The former Canning MLA was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on June 5. He was arrested in connection with the Bhanagar bomb blast that took place ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.

Anger and accusations against the Trinamool continue

Former minister and senior Trinamool leader Udayan Guha was earlier accused of corruption under the Awas Yojana scheme. On Friday, further allegations were leveled against him by local left-wing leaders of North Bengal. The complaint was formally shared with Dinhata Police Station. Other similar complaints were also filed against Mr. Guha at the same police station.

Meanwhile, former Trinamool MLA from Tarakeshwar Ramenda Singha Roy was also arrested from Karnataka. He was arrested on charges of extortion and corruption.

Published – 20 Jun 2026 0:49 IST