ED files 2nd chargesheet against land mafia Sona Pappu in West Bengal case
Synopsis
The ED's second supplementary chargesheet against Sona Pappu — a land mafia accused who allegedly preyed on senior citizens — reveals ₹37.77 crore in alleged illegal gains and a police-protection nexus reaching a former Kolkata Deputy Commissioner described as a close confidant of ex-CM Mamata Banerjee. A parallel probe into a police transfer-posting racket is now widening the case further.
Key Takeaways
The ED filed a 100-page second supplementary chargesheet on 17 July before a special PMLA court in Kolkata .
Accused Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu allegedly earned ₹37.77 crore through illegal land grabbing, targeting senior citizens.
Co-accused include former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas and real estate promoter Joy Kamdar .
The ED alleges Pappu operated with impunity due to protection from Sinha Biswas, reportedly a close confidant of former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee .
A parallel ED probe has been launched into Sinha Biswas allegedly earning commissions by influencing police transfers and postings at Sub-Inspector to Assistant Commissioner levels.
Statements of 200 witnesses have been recorded in the second chargesheet.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, 17 July filed a second supplementary chargesheet before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata, detailing the alleged financial gains of land mafia accused Biswajit Poddar, widely known as Sona Pappu, in an illegal land grabbing case in West Bengal. The 100-page document records statements of 200 witnesses and accuses Poddar of illegally amassing approximately ₹37.77 crore through forced land seizures.
What the Chargesheet Alleges
According to the ED's filing, Sona Pappu allegedly grabbed land by force, with his primary targets being helpless senior citizens. In several instances, victims were reportedly threatened into surrendering their properties. The chargesheet names two other principal accused — former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas and real estate promoter Joy Kamdar — as Poddar's alleged accomplices in the racket. Their involvement had been detailed in the first supplementary chargesheet filed at the same special PMLA court earlier this month.
The Police-Mafia Nexus Alleged by ED
The ED has alleged that Sona Pappu operated with near-impunity during the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, owing to protection extended by Sinha Biswas, who was reportedly a close confidant of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. This alleged political-police shield, the agency claims, kept Pappu beyond the reach of law enforcement for an extended period.
Fresh Probe into Police Transfer Racket
Separately, the ED has launched a parallel investigation into Sinha Biswas over allegations that he influenced transfers and postings of police officers junior to him. According to reports, the former Deputy Commissioner allegedly arranged reportedly 'lucrative' postings for officers at the ranks of Sub-Inspector, Inspector, and even Assistant Commissioner level, earning hefty commissions in return. This new line of inquiry is based on specific complaints received by the agency.
Background and Case Timeline
The illegal land grabbing case in West Bengal has seen the ED progressively build its money laundering case through multiple chargesheets. The first supplementary chargesheet, filed earlier in July 2025, focused on the roles of Sinha Biswas and Kamdar. The second supplementary chargesheet now places Sona Pappu at the financial centre of the alleged scheme. This is the latest in a series of ED actions targeting alleged land-related corruption in West Bengal, a pattern that has intensified since the change in political circumstances in the state.
What Comes Next
The special PMLA court in Kolkata will now take up the second supplementary chargesheet for further proceedings. With 200 witness statements on record and a parallel investigation into the police transfer racket underway, legal proceedings in the case are expected to widen significantly in the coming weeks.
Point of View
Not individual misconduct. What is notable is the ED's sequencing: first establish the money trail through land grabs, then layer in the police nexus, now probe the transfer racket. Each chargesheet widens the circle. The political dimension — Sinha Biswas's alleged proximity to former CM Mamata Banerjee — will be closely watched, though the ED has so far stopped short of naming any political figure as an accused.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sona Pappu and what is he accused of?
Sona Pappu is the alias of Biswajit Poddar , a land mafia accused in West Bengal. The ED alleges he illegally earned approximately ₹37.77 crore by grabbing land through force and threats, primarily targeting helpless senior citizens.
What is the second supplementary chargesheet about?
The 100-page second supplementary chargesheet, filed on 17 July before a special PMLA court in Kolkata, details Sona Pappu's alleged financial gains in the land grabbing case. It includes statements of 200 witnesses and builds on the first chargesheet, which had focused on co-accused Santanu Sinha Biswas and Joy Kamdar.
What is the alleged role of former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas?
The ED has alleged that Santanu Sinha Biswas , a former Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, was Sona Pappu's accomplice and allegedly extended protection to him, keeping the land mafia operative beyond the reach of police. Separately, the ED is probing Sinha Biswas for allegedly earning commissions by influencing transfers and postings of junior police officers.
What is the connection to former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee?
According to the ED's chargesheet, Sinha Biswas was reportedly a close confidant of former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee . The agency has alleged this proximity helped Sona Pappu operate with impunity during the previous TMC government. No political figure has been named as an accused in the case so far.
What happens next in the case?
The special PMLA court in Kolkata will take up the second supplementary chargesheet for further proceedings. A parallel ED investigation into Sinha Biswas's alleged police transfer-posting racket is also underway, suggesting the case could widen to include more accused persons in the coming weeks.
