ED raids 10 locations in Kolkata, including Park Street & Bhawanipur, in Sona Pappu case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday launched search operations at multiple locations across Kolkata in connection with the Sona Pappu land fraud case. Officials conducted raids at around 10 locations, including Park Street, Bhawanipur, Ballygunge, Chakraberia and Kasba, with heavy deployment of CRPF personnel. Promoter Atul Kataria is also reportedly under the agency’s scanner as investigators examine alleged financial links connected to the case.

ED teams carried out searches at Atul Kataria’s residence on Ashu Biswas Road in Bhawanipur, a café on Royd Street and a luxury residential property in Ballygunge Place. Simultaneously, officials conducted raids at locations linked to former Kolkata Police officer Shantanu Sinha Biswas, including his residence in Kandi, Murshidabad. Additional central forces personnel were reportedly deployed from the New Town camp during the operation.

According to ED sources, the searches were launched after investigators obtained details of alleged financial transactions during the custodial interrogation of Biswajit Poddar, alias Sona Pappu. Investigators are examining allegations that black money was routed through multiple companies and later invested in different business entities through influential individuals connected to the alleged network.

Searches were also conducted at a café-cum-hotel on Park Street, where officials examined documents related to possible financial dealings linked to the case. Another ED team reached a residential complex in Chakraberia after investigators allegedly found evidence of close ties between a businessman residing there and Sona Pappu. Raids were additionally carried out at the residence of a Kolkata Police sub-inspector in Kasba, who is said to be close to Shantanu Sinha Biswas.

Sona Pappu was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 18 in connection with allegations including extortion, illegal land occupation, unauthorised construction activities and criminal intimidation. ED had earlier informed the court that Sona Pappu, Shantanu Sinha Biswas and real estate businessman Joy Kamdar allegedly operated a land syndicate involving property acquisition through intimidation and forged documents. Sona Pappu was remanded to ED custody till May 28, and investigators are continuing interrogation based on the material collected during the probe.