On Sunday, April 19, 2026, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive search operations at the Ballygunge residence of Shantanu Sinha Biswas, a Deputy Commissioner (Special Branch) of the Kolkata Police, to investigate a suspected money laundering trail linked to an organized extortion syndicate. The early morning raids, which began around 6:00 AM, targeted multiple properties across West Bengal, including the officer’s Fern Road flat and the premises of businessman Jay Kamdar, as part of a probe into the illegal financial activities of absconding criminal Biswajit Poddar, alias “Sona Pappu.” By executing these searches under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the federal agency sought to uncover incriminating evidence regarding the funneling of “proceeds of crime” from extortion and land-grabbing into the accounts of influential public servants.
The operation was marked by significant tension as ED officials, escorted by a heavy contingent of central paramilitary forces, reportedly faced delays in accessing the properties. While the Deputy Commissioner was not present at one of the locations during the initial entry, investigators spent several hours questioning staff and scrutinizing digital devices. The raid on businessman Jay Kamdar, the Managing Director of Sun Enterprise, proved particularly high-stakes; he was arrested later that evening after the agency reportedly recovered over ₹1 crore in cash and a substantial quantity of gold from his residence.
The investigation suggests a deep-rooted nexus between local syndicates and administration officials. According to agency sources, the syndicate led by Sona Pappu allegedly used force to seize disputed real estate and conducted unauthorized construction, with the resulting profits being routed to various associates. Biswas had previously been on the federal radar, having been summoned earlier in the month regarding a separate coal smuggling case and a probe into NRI-quota admission irregularities in private medical colleges.
The timing of the raids has sparked a fierce political row in West Bengal, occurring just days before the scheduled phases of the 2026 Assembly Elections. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vehemently criticized the action, labeling the searches as “politically motivated” and an attempt by the central government to intimidate the state administration and influence the polls. Conversely, opposition leaders maintained that the central agencies were merely performing their duty to dismantle a long-standing “extortion-cracy” within the state. As the investigation widens, the ED continues to track the movement of funds to determine if more high-ranking officials are involved in the syndicate’s operations.
