ED raids nine places in land-grabbing, extortion case

MP, May 23, 2026, Kolkata :  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a raid at nine places across Bengal in connection with a land-grabbing and extortion syndicate in which notorious criminal Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu was arrested.

The raids were conducted at several places in the city, along with the house of the former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas at Kandi in Murshidabad.

In Kolkata, the central agency reached the residence of a Sub-Inspector of Kolkata Police Reserve Force in Kasba, who was allegedly involved in the nexus and a close aide of the Deputy Commissioner.

At the Royd Street area, ED sleuths raided a popular hotel, while another team raided the residence of a businessman in Chakraberia of Bhowanipore, searching for documents tied to alleged hawala operations.

Another team of the ED reached Shantanu’s house located in Ward 8 of Kandi Municipality. It was learnt that Shantanu’s sister, Gauri Biswas, is the vice-chairman of Kandi Municipality and used to stay at the house. However, the house was locked since Shantanu got arrested by the central agency. ED officers had to break open the gates and doors of the house.

During the raids conducted by multiple teams of the ED, several incriminating documents, including property deeds and bank statements, were reportedly seized.

Meanwhile, Joy Kamdar, the businessman arrested by the ED in connection with the alleged land-grabbing, extortion and money laundering case, did not appeal for bail after he was produced in court virtually.