ED Arrests Kolkata Police DCP Santanu Sinha Biswas in Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested Santanu Sinha Biswas, Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police, after nearly 11 hours of questioning in connection with an alleged money laundering, extortion and land-grabbing case linked to the notorious Sona Pappu syndicate.

Biswas was taken into custody late in the evening after appearing before ED officials at the agency’s Salt Lake office earlier in the day. He has been produced before the court on Friday. The arrest comes after the senior police officer allegedly skipped multiple summons issued by the agency, prompting the ED to issue a lookout notice against him.

According to officials, Santanu Biswas had failed to appear despite repeated notices and had earlier avoided questioning in both the present case and a separate investigation related to alleged illegal sand smuggling. Officials claimed Biswas did not cooperate during the interrogation and repeatedly avoided giving clear responses to investigators. Based on the material collected and his conduct during questioning, he was placed under arrest, an official stated. 

The case is linked to an alleged criminal syndicate run by Sona Pappu alias Biswajit Poddar, who is accused of involvement in land grabbing, extortion, financial fraud and illegal real estate dealings across Kolkata. Poddar, who remains absconding, is facing multiple criminal cases, including allegations of attempted murder, extortion and Arms Act violations. The ED suspects that Biswas had links with the syndicate and may have benefited financially through illegal transactions.

According to investigators, digital evidence recovered from the devices of arrested real estate businessman Joy Kamdar allegedly revealed suspicious financial dealings involving the police officer. “WhatsApp chat leaks and digital data seized from real estate businessman Joy Kamdar revealed suspicious financial transactions linking Biswas to the illicit network, including an estimated ₹2.5 crore transaction,” a senior ED official said to The Indian Express. 

Officials added that Santanu Biswas is also under scrutiny in separate investigations concerning illegal sand trafficking and financial irregularities linked to land-related disputes. The arrest assumes significance as Biswas had earlier served as officer-in-charge of Kalighat Police Station, the jurisdiction where former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee resides.

The ED had conducted searches at Santanu Biswas’ Fern Road residence and other linked premises on April 19 as part of the ongoing probe. A day after the raids, the agency had summoned Biswas and his two sons to appear before investigators, though none turned up.

The BJP reacted sharply to the arrest, describing it as part of a broader effort to dismantle alleged criminal-administrative nexuses in West Bengal. “Under BJP rule in West Bengal led by Suvendu Adhikari, the dirty nexus between criminals and administration will end,” BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said.