New Delhi, Nov. 4: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim protection from coercive action to Mohammad Nazibuddin Mondal alias Tulu Mondal, also referred to as the “Stone King” of Birbhum, after recording an assurance that he would return to Kolkata from Dubai by November 17 and pursue remedies available to him in connection with criminal cases arising from his alleged illegal stone and quarry operations.
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Sheel Nagu directed that the Calcutta High Court’s September 22, 2026 judgment, which had declined relief to Mondal, as well as the orders upheld by it, would remain in abeyance till November 17.
The High Court had upheld orders passed by the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate, Suri, Birbhum, issuing a non-bailable warrant against Mondal and subsequently initiating proclamation proceedings to secure his presence.
The Supreme Court said that if Mondal returns to Kolkata on or before November 17, he would be free to pursue remedies available to him in law for securing his liberty. It further directed that State authorities should not take coercive action against him in any of the FIRs lodged against him for three weeks from the date of his arrival in Kolkata.
“The impugned judgment and the orders upheld thereby shall remain in abeyance presently till 17th November, 2026. Upon returning to Kolkata before/by that date, the petitioner will be at liberty to pursue remedies available to him in law, as advised, to secure his liberty. However, for a period of three weeks from date of the petitioner’s arrival in Kolkata, the respondent (the State) shall not take any coercive steps against him in respect of any of the FIRs which are lodged against him”, the court said in its order passed today.
The court further said that the High Court judgment and the orders passed by the Magistrate would become ineffective once Mondal returns. They would, however, revive if the West Bengal authorities receive definite information that he has failed to return to Kolkata by November 17 in terms of the assurance given to the top court.
“Be it recorded that the impugned judgment and the orders it upheld will become ineffective upon the petitioner’s return. The same will, however, revive, should the respondent have definite information that the petitioner has not returned to Kolkata by 17th November, 2026.”, the top court order said.
The directions followed an assurance by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Mondal, that his client was willing to return to India from Dubai and join the investigation, provided he was given reasonable time and protection to avail remedies available in law for securing his liberty.
Taking the assurance on record, the bench disposed of Mondal’s petition challenging the High Court order without examining the legality or correctness of the High Court judgment or the subordinate court orders.
“Without examining the legality and/or correctness of the impugned judgment of the High Court as well as the orders which have been upheld thereby, and recording the assurance given by Mr. Rohatgi that the petitioner is willing to return to Kolkata from Dubai latest by 17th November, 2026, we dispose of this special leave petition with the following directions”, the court said in its order.
Mondal is facing investigation in West Bengal in connection with an alleged illegal stone-mining and transportation network in Birbhum district. As reported, investigators have alleged large-scale revenue evasion involving forged Duplicate Carbon Receipts and have linked substantial assets to the suspected network.
Police raids conducted earlier this year at premises allegedly linked to Mondal’s associates and relatives were reported to have led to the recovery of about ₹10.5 crore in cash and around 15 kg of gold. Investigating agencies have also reportedly examined assets worth about ₹144 crore allegedly connected with the operations under probe.
Pramod kumar is a Senior Journalist, Covering Supreem Court of India
