ED arrests Kolkata Police DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas in syndicate money laundering case
Synopsis
A serving Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner arrested by the ED after repeatedly dodging summons — this is the Sona Pappu syndicate case reaching into the heart of the city's law enforcement. With financial transaction links, a lookout notice, and a midnight residence raid already on record, Thursday's arrest signals the probe is now targeting those who may have shielded the network from within.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate arrested Kolkata Police DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas on 14 May at the CGO Complex, Kolkata .
Biswas was questioned for over 10.5 hours before being formally arrested at around 9:30 p.m.
The arrest is linked to a money laundering probe into an alleged syndicate run by Sona Pappu alias Biswajit Poddar .
Biswas had repeatedly skipped ED summons and a lookout notice had been issued against him.
Financial transactions allegedly linking Biswas to Sona Pappu and documents recovered from businessman Joy Kamdar are part of the evidence trail.
Biswas is set to be produced before a court on 15 May .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday, 14 May arrested Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas in connection with a money laundering investigation into an alleged criminal-linked syndicate, marking a significant escalation in a probe that has been building for months. Biswas was taken into custody at the CGO Complex, Kolkata, after more than 10.5 hours of sustained questioning and is scheduled to be produced before a court on Friday, 15 May.
Background to the Arrest
The case centres on an alleged criminal syndicate reportedly operated by one Sona Pappu, also known as Biswajit Poddar. Biswas, who previously served as Officer-in-Charge of Kalighat Police Station, had been summoned by the ED on multiple occasions as part of its money laundering inquiry into the syndicate's financial network. According to investigators, he repeatedly failed to appear before the agency despite formal summons.
The ED had also issued a lookout notice against Biswas to prevent him from leaving the country, reflecting the seriousness with which investigators viewed his non-compliance.
Financial Links and Evidence Trail
According to sources, investigators identified certain financial transactions allegedly linking Shantanu Biswas to Sona Pappu and his close associates. Further, Biswas was reportedly connected to documents recovered from businessman Joy Kamdar, who had been arrested on charges related to financial transactions in the same case.
Last month, the ED conducted searches at Biswas's residence on Fern Road, Kolkata. The search operation began in the early hours and continued until approximately 2 a.m., when investigators finally departed. Biswas was reportedly not present at his residence during the raid.
Pattern of Non-Compliance
A day after the residence searches, the ED summoned Biswas along with his two sons, Sayantan and Manish, to the CGO Complex — none of whom appeared before the agency on that occasion. In April, Biswas had also been summoned separately in connection with a sand smuggling investigation, but did not appear then either. On that occasion, his lawyer visited the ED office on his behalf. According to sources, Biswas had sought additional time from the agency, citing official engagements.
The Arrest
Biswas ultimately appeared before the ED on Thursday and was formally arrested at around 9:30 p.m. IST. His arrest represents one of the more prominent instances of a serving senior police officer being detained by a central enforcement agency in West Bengal in recent times. This comes amid broader scrutiny of alleged nexus between organised criminal networks and public officials in the state.
The case is expected to move swiftly through judicial proceedings, with Biswas set to face a court hearing on Friday that will determine custody arrangements going forward.
Point of View
Not merely passive neglect. Biswas's repeated non-compliance with summons, the lookout notice, and the midnight raid on his residence suggest the ED had been building this case carefully before moving in. The broader question this raises is institutional: how far up the chain does the alleged financial nexus extend, and whether this arrest is a terminus or a stepping stone. West Bengal has seen several high-profile ED actions in recent years, but a sitting DCP in custody is a different order of political and institutional sensitivity entirely.
NationPress
12 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Kolkata Police DCP Shantanu Sinha Biswas arrested by the ED?
Shantanu Sinha Biswas was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 14 May in connection with a money laundering investigation into an alleged criminal syndicate run by Sona Pappu alias Biswajit Poddar. Investigators reportedly found financial transactions linking him to the syndicate and documents recovered from arrested businessman Joy Kamdar.
How long was Shantanu Biswas questioned before his arrest?
Biswas was questioned for more than 10.5 hours at the CGO Complex in Kolkata before being formally arrested at around 9:30 p.m. IST on Thursday, 14 May.
What is the Sona Pappu syndicate case?
The Sona Pappu case is an ED money laundering investigation into an alleged criminal-linked syndicate reportedly operated by Biswajit Poddar, also known as Sona Pappu. The probe has led to multiple arrests and searches, including that of businessman Joy Kamdar, and has now extended to a serving senior police officer.
Had the ED taken any prior action against Shantanu Biswas?
Yes. The ED had summoned Biswas multiple times, issued a lookout notice against him to prevent him from leaving the country, and conducted a search at his Fern Road residence that continued until around 2 a.m. He had also been summoned separately in April in connection with a sand smuggling investigation, which he did not attend.
When will Shantanu Biswas appear in court?
Biswas is scheduled to be produced before a court on Friday, 15 May, which will determine custody arrangements as the ED's money laundering case proceeds.
