Cattle Smuggling Case: Delhi HC Seeks ED Response On Sukanya Mondal Bail’s Plea

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding a regular bail plea filed by Sukanya Mondal in a money laundering case related to a large-scale cattle smuggling case. Sukanya, daughter of Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, who is also in judicial custody for the same case, was arrested by the ED on April 26, 2023.

Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma’s bench issued a notice to the ED and scheduled the matter for August 9, 2023. Sukanya’s earlier regular bail plea was denied by the trial court on June 1, 2023.

Advocate Amit Kumar, representing Sukanya, argued that another accused, Tanya Sanyal, who was not arrested but was charged and granted bail in the case, is the wife of accused BSF commandant Satish Kumar. The defense emphasized that there is no incriminating evidence against Sukanya, and her health has been compromised due to the investigation.

The ED, through the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), contended that there is incriminating material against the accused, and national security and the country’s economic interests are involved in the matter. The ED also highlighted that Sukanya’s father, Anubrata Mondal, relied on her for his business activities.

The court had previously granted ED custody of Sukanya to trace the proceeds of the crime and investigate the money trail. It was also revealed that Sukanya, a teacher in the West Bengal government, has substantial cash proceeds deposited in her bank accounts and business entities worth several crores.

Anubrata Mondal, a prominent figure in the Trinamool Congress party, had been previously arrested by the CBI and subsequently by the ED in connection with the same case. The court acknowledged that the ED’s case is based on the scheduled offense in the ongoing CBI proceedings in a court in Asansol, West Bengal, where some accused are already in judicial custody.