Spl court denies ED plea to arrest Bengal min
Times of India | 25 September 2025's (ED) plea for custodial interrogation of Bengal minister of correctional administration Chandranath Sinha, a special PMLA court on Wednesday said it wasn't satisfied "any custodial interrogation" was "justified at this stage".
The court held that the minister cannot be taken into custody only because he skipped two ED summons. Sinha, however, will have to appear before the central agency on Thursday and Friday.
Justice Suvendu Saha, in his order, said the investigating agency had "ample opportunity and sufficient power" to deal with the minister's alleged non-compliance before they filed the charge sheet, but the agency chose not to exert its statutory power.
"If he is sent for custodial interrogation as per the ED prayer, it would be harsh punitive action against him," the judge added.
Walking out of the courtroom, Sinha said, "I have not done anything wrong knowingly, I have faith in the judicial system."
The ED had moved court on Sept 6 seeking seven days of custodial interrogation of Sinha.
This came after ED conducted raids at Sinha's Bolpur residence in July in which it seized Rs 41 lakh cash and traced land in his possession.
Sinha said the money was his agricultural income, but ED was not satisfied with the documents produced by the minister.
The ED further alleged that a false declaration was made in Sinha's wife's 2016 income tax return, which was accommodated in 2022 to "hide the nature of the cash".
Sinha's lawyer, Sanjib Dan, argued that the minister appeared at the agency's office in March and Sept last year. "Later summons were issued on consecutive days without giving him much time to collect necessary documents. He cooperated with the agency during the entire process," Dan said.
The special PMLA court said ED can interrogate Sinha between 11 am and 5 pm on Sept 25 and 26.
If the agency needs to interrogate him further, a fresh summons can be issued. Attending the interrogation is "obligatory" for Sinha.
