3 min readKolkataMay 19, 2026 01:43 AM IST
On the run for over three months, Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu was finally arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday.
A real estate developer from Ballygunge in Kolkata, Sona Pappu has been on the ED radar in an alleged extortion and land-grabbing case.
“I am a businessman, not a criminal,” Sona Pappu said as he entered the ED office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake CGO Complex on Monday morning, where he was arrested after being grilled by the agency for over nine hours.
Sona Pappu had been absconding for over three months, after the ED raided his residence and multiple locations linked to him, and reportedly seized over Rs 2 crore in cash, property documents and a handgun. He is accused of extortion, land grabbing, and parking illegal funds of influential people.
On April 20, the ED had arrested businessman Jay S Kamdar over allegations of illegal transactions worth crores in an alleged land-grabbing case.
According to ED sources, Kamdar, the managing director of Sun Enterprise, is accused of illegally transacting around Rs 1,100 crore through shell companies.
Similarly, on May 14, the ED arrested Santanu Sinha Biswas, Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, also allegedly linked to the same case.
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Sources in the ED said that the three accused are allegedly linked in an extortion and land-grabbing case, and the agency is trying to establish a money trail to unearth the alleged nexus. While Kamdar and Sona Pappu are accused of money laundering, DCP Biswas patronised both and ensured that no action was taken against them.
While in hiding, Sona Pappu was seen using social media platforms to make statements about his innocence.
Sona Pappu’s criminal history
In February, bombs were thrown, bullets were fired, and stones were hurled as two rival groups clashed on Kankulia Road in the Golpark area, resulting in at least two injuries and the subsequent arrest of ten people. According to residents, over 100 youths, allegedly led by Sona Pappu, stormed and attacked resident Bappi Haldar and his supporters, who fought back in retaliation.
Locals claim that Pappu orchestrated the violence in an effort to establish control over the area. Pappu has had numerous run-ins with the law since he entered the construction business around 2010-11. He attempted to take control of the Ballygunge Rail Yard in 2015, which brought him into conflict with another strongman, Munna Pandey.
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In 2017, Palash Jana was murdered as a result of territorial disputes on Swinhoe Lane in Kolkata, leading to Sona Pappu’s arrest in Jalpaiguri. Though he was released on bail, the law enforcement agency claims that he still faces at least 15 criminal charges, including attempted murder, rape, and multiple violations of the Arms Act.
