Kolkata’s underworld trembled as the Enforcement Directorate struck hard against a notorious criminal syndicate, arresting real estate tycoon Joy Kamdar and raiding properties of a senior police officer. The Sunday operations targeted Kamdar’s Behala residence and two locations of Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas in Ballygunge, unearthing deep links to money laundering activities orchestrated by absconding don Sona Pappu.
Kamdar, head of Sun Enterprise, faced grueling questioning for over four hours at ED’s CGO Complex in Salt Lake before his formal arrest under PMLA provisions. Detained from his south Kolkata home, he was slated for court appearance, though a sudden health scare during medical transit landed him at RG Kar Hospital.
ED’s statement detailed the raids as part of an ongoing PMLA case involving Pappu and Kamdar. Pappu, a prime suspect in multiple extortion, attempt to murder, and rioting cases—including the February Golpark clashes—heads a syndicate extorting massive sums from builders in south Kolkata neighborhoods like Kasba and Ballygunge. The laundered proceeds allegedly reached powerful contacts.
The investigation ignited from a police FIR against Pappu for serious offenses. ED’s initial April 1 searches seized substantial cash, valuables, and a firearm. Kamdar emerged as a key figure after cash recovery from his home during Pappu’s premises raid this month. Ignoring two ED summons, his arrest was inevitable.
Biswas’s involvement raises eyebrows, pointing to possible police-syndicate nexus. Pappu, evading capture, vents on social media against agency ‘harassment.’ With West Bengal’s organized crime under scrutiny, this bust signals a broader offensive. As Kamdar recovers and faces court, expect the syndicate’s financial trails to unravel further, exposing complicit networks in the city’s power corridors.
