The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a significant operation in West Bengal, focused on uncovering connections between criminal activities and state political figures. This intensive investigation follows the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) success in recent elections, which has prompted central agencies to intensify their efforts against alleged criminal organisations and extortion networks reportedly associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Central to the probe is Kolkata’s Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shantanu Sinha Biswas, who is implicated in a nexus with notorious local figure Sona Pappu, often referred to as the TMC’s ‘golden boy’. Allegations suggest their involvement in a wide-ranging racket encompassing land grabbing, extortion, unlawful constructions, and hawala financial dealings.

Last week, both Biswas and Pappu were arrested, with Pappu having evaded capture for over three months. The arrests have intensified speculation regarding further implications for prominent individuals within the TMC, potentially leading to shocking revelations concerning the alleged criminal syndicate’s operations.

Details of the ED’s Actions

On Friday, the ED deployed personnel to raid multiple locations across Kolkata and Murshidabad linked to Biswas and Pappu. A specific focus was on Biswas’s family property in Kandi, Murshidabad. Upon arrival, officers encountered a locked gate, which they forcibly opened to conduct their search, prompting reactions from locals witnessing the event unfold.

The situation starkly contrasted with previous encounters, including an alleged attack on ED personnel during a raid on the residence of former TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali. Emphasising the scale of this operation, the ED also targeted a popular hotel in Kolkata, the residence of a businessman, and the home of a Kolkata Police sub-inspector, reinforcing the probe’s emphasis on the interconnections between Biswas and Pappu.

During an earlier phase of the investigation, Biswas was the first individual arrested, coming into custody after a prolonged questioning session that lasted eleven hours, following four summons he failed to attend. A lookout notice had been issued against him in relation to the investigations just a day after the election results were proclaimed on May 4, leading to concerns that he might attempt to leave the country.

Profiles of Key Figures Involved

Shantanu Sinha Biswas, involved in this inquiry, was arrested on May 15. The ED’s investigation claims that Biswas participated in a criminal network alongside Sona Pappu. Furthermore, he is under scrutiny regarding his possible involvement in a separate sand smuggling operation. His connection to illegal activities emerged following the ED’s arrest of Joy Kamdar, managing director of Sun Enterprise. Investigators reportedly discovered incriminating WhatsApp communications and financial data indicating Biswas’s ties to Pappu’s illicit operations, including a transaction amounting to Rs 2.5 crore.

Sona Pappu’s arrest occurred shortly after Biswas, marking a noteworthy event in the ED’s ongoing crackdowns. Pappu is implicated in multiple serious offences, including attempted murder and extortion, with a total of 15 cases registered against him. His past associations with TMC leaders have contributed to his notoriety, and he has often been perceived as an influential figure within Bengal’s criminal and political landscape.

Despite Pappu’s claim of being a businessman rather than a criminal during his arrest, ongoing investigations reveal that he allegedly used intimidation tactics to coerce property owners into selling valuable assets at significantly undervalued prices. One such property valued at Rs 5 crore was reportedly sold for only Rs 1 crore. The ED’s inquiry also points to illegal hawala transactions potentially extending beyond Bengal’s borders, indicating the broader implications of this case.

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