ED questions Trinamool's Shreya Pandey in Sona Pappu syndicate case
Synopsis
Trinamool Congress leader Shreya Pandey walked into the ED's Salt Lake office a day before her scheduled summons — and denied knowing the alleged syndicate kingpin at the centre of the case. With a businessman already arrested, land fraud documents seized, and digital evidence pointing to political links, the ED's Sona Pappu probe is now squarely inside Bengal's political circles.
Key Takeaways
Shreya Pandey , Trinamool Congress leader and daughter of former minister Sadhan Pandey , appeared before the ED at CGO Complex, Salt Lake on 8 June .
Her name reportedly surfaced during forensic examination of digital devices seized in the Sona Pappu syndicate case .
Pandey claimed her appearance was voluntary and denied knowing Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu ; ED sources confirmed a summons had been issued for Tuesday .
Businessman Joy Kamdar has already been arrested; Pandey reportedly visited his residence three times during Kali Puja .
Sona Pappu was arrested after appearing before the ED on 18 May ; multiple FIRs allege land grabbing, extortion, and intimidation across Kasba and Ballygunge .
Trinamool Congress leader Shreya Pandey appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake, Kolkata on Monday, 8 June, in connection with the Sona Pappu-linked syndicate case — a day ahead of her scheduled summons. The ED is probing an alleged network of land fraud, extortion, and intimidation operating across south Kolkata.
Why Pandey's Name Surfaced
According to ED sources, Pandey's name emerged during the forensic examination of digital devices, including mobile phones, seized as part of the ongoing investigation. She is the daughter of former West Bengal state minister Sadhan Pandey.
Pandey claimed on social media that her appearance was voluntary and that she had not received any summons for Monday. She also stated that she had no acquaintance with Biswajit Poddar, alias Sona Pappu, the alleged strongman at the centre of the syndicate case. ED sources, however, confirmed that a formal summons had been issued for Tuesday.
Kalyan Shukla and the Land Fraud Trail
Prior to Pandey's questioning, the ED had already examined Kalyan Shukla, described as someone close to her. According to ED sources, documents linked to land fraud were recovered from Shukla's residence during searches.
Pandey is also reported to have visited the home of businessman Joy Kamdar — who has since been arrested in the case — on three occasions during Kali Puja, at gatherings that reportedly included leaders from multiple political parties.
Sona Pappu: Arrest and Allegations
Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu had gone into hiding after being named in the Rabindra Sarovar clashes in February, though he reportedly remained active on social media during that period. The ED conducted searches at his residence and at Kamdar's premises in April, seizing cash, a high-value vehicle, and property-related documents.
Poddar subsequently appeared before the ED on 18 May and was arrested. Multiple FIRs have been registered against him, with allegations including land grabbing, extortion, and intimidation. He is suspected of having run several syndicates across the Kasba and Ballygunge areas of south Kolkata.
What Comes Next
With Pandey questioned, Shukla examined, and Kamdar in custody, the ED probe appears to be widening its net around the alleged syndicate's political connections. Further questioning of associates and examination of seized digital evidence is expected as investigators trace the financial trail in the case.
Point of View
Framed as voluntary — is a familiar political optics move, but it does little to address the substance of what the ED says it found on seized devices. The Sona Pappu case is no longer just a street-level syndicate story; it is tracing a line from alleged land fraud and extortion into the drawing rooms of Bengal's political class. The presence of multi-party leaders at Kamdar's Kali Puja gatherings, if corroborated, suggests the syndicate's patronage network was deliberately cross-partisan — a detail that mainstream coverage has so far underplayed. The ED's focus on digital evidence rather than just financial documents signals a more aggressive evidentiary strategy than in earlier Bengal probe cycles.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Shreya Pandey questioned by the ED?
Shreya Pandey was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Sona Pappu-linked syndicate case. Her name reportedly emerged during forensic analysis of digital devices, including mobile phones, seized during the ongoing probe.
Who is Sona Pappu and what is he accused of?
Sona Pappu is the alias of Biswajit Poddar , an alleged strongman suspected of running syndicate networks across Kasba and Ballygunge in south Kolkata. Multiple FIRs have been registered against him for alleged land grabbing, extortion, and intimidation; he was arrested after appearing before the ED on 18 May.
Did Shreya Pandey receive a summons before appearing?
According to ED sources, Pandey had been summoned for questioning on Tuesday, 9 June. She appeared a day earlier on Monday, 8 June, and claimed on social media that her appearance was voluntary. She also denied knowing Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu.
Who else has been arrested or questioned in the case?
Businessman Joy Kamdar has been arrested in the case. Kalyan Shukla, described as close to Pandey, was also questioned earlier, with land fraud documents reportedly recovered from his residence. Biswajit Poddar himself was arrested after appearing before the ED on 18 May.
What did the ED find during its searches?
During searches at the residences of Biswajit Poddar and Joy Kamdar in April, the ED reportedly seized cash, a high-value vehicle, and property-related documents. Land fraud documents were also found at Kalyan Shukla's residence, according to ED sources.
