The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, 18 May arrested Biswajit Poddar, widely known as Sona Pappu, in connection with a financial fraud and extortion case in Kolkata. Pappu, who had been evading investigators for months, walked into the ED office at the CGO Complex, Salt Lake on his own — accompanied by his wife — and was taken into custody after a nine-hour interrogation.

Background: A Wanted Man Who Surfaced Voluntarily

Sona Pappu had been on the radar of law enforcement well before the West Bengal Assembly elections, with allegations of involvement in multiple illegal activities. His name surfaced prominently in connection with a clash in the Rabindra Sarovar police station area last February, where locals alleged he was the instigator. His associates were reportedly responsible for the unrest and vandalism that followed.

Despite police arresting several individuals in that incident, Pappu remained untraceable. He was suspected to have fled to another state. Notably, during his period of absence, he appeared live on Facebook on at least two occasions, claiming he had no involvement in any violence.

ED Raids and Seizures

In April, while Pappu was still in hiding, the ED conducted raids at his residence. Simultaneously, investigators searched the home of Behala businessman Joy Kamdar. The operations yielded significant recoveries — cash, an expensive car, and multiple property documents were seized.

According to ED sources, a foreign-make pistol was also recovered from Pappu's residence. The weapon was allegedly procured through Kamdar and was subsequently deposited at Gariahat police station. Kamdar has since been arrested by the Central Investigation Agency (CID) in connection with the same case.

Police Officer Arrested in Linked Probe

The investigation widened considerably when the ED raided the Fern Road residence of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas last month. Biswas was first summoned to a police station for questioning in the Pappu case, then called before the ED, and was subsequently arrested — a development that drew sharp attention to the alleged nexus between organised crime and law enforcement in the city.

Arrest and Charges

According to ED sources, multiple First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against Pappu, covering charges of extortion, criminal threats, and violations under the Arms Act. He had been served several ED notices in the past but had consistently failed to appear. His unannounced arrival at the Salt Lake office on Monday — without any fresh summons — caught investigators off guard.

The ED cited non-cooperation in the investigation as a primary ground for the arrest. The case marks a significant escalation in the ED's crackdown on alleged financial crime networks in West Bengal, with multiple high-profile arrests now linked to a single probe.