Calcutta High Court denies protection to absconding quarry owner Tulu Mondal

The Calcutta High Court has denied interim protection from arrest to Tulu Mondal, also known as Mohammad Nazibuddin, an absconding stone-quarry owner from the Birbhum district. A single-judge bench presided over by Justice Bhattacharya dismissed the petition following strong opposition from the West Bengal government.

State counsel informed the court that intelligence from the National Intelligence Grid suggests Mondal left India on May 23 and has remained absconding. The state argued that the charges against him are serious and that granting protection could facilitate further offenses. An Interpol Red Corner Notice has also been issued against him.

Police have already confiscated assets worth approximately Rs 220 crore, including cash and gold, though investigators believe this is only a portion of his total wealth. Authorities are also investigating claims that Mondal holds roughly 125 acres of land. The investigation includes allegations of large-scale tax evasion through the use of fake duplicate carbon copies at stone quarries, with some state officials reportedly under investigation for their alleged involvement.