The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Biswajit Poddar, widely known as Sona Pappu, on Monday for his alleged involvement in a land grabbing racket. According to ED officials, Pappu operated a scheme where he acquired high-value properties at significantly reduced prices through intimidation and threats.
Court Proceedings and Custody
On Tuesday, a special PMLA court remanded Pappu to 10-day ED custody. ED officers informed the court that Pappu terrorized property owners into selling their assets at prices far below market value. For instance, a property worth Rs 5 crore was reportedly sold for just Rs 1 crore under duress.
Allegations and Evidence
ED lawyer Dhiraj Tripathi stated, "Every FIR has his name. Illegal arms were recovered from him. He had purchased a consignment of firearms from Joy S Kamdar's company." Kamdar, an associate of Pappu, was arrested last month in connection with the same case. The ED previously revealed that Kamdar, managing director of Sun Enterprise, funneled illicit funds through a network of shell companies, including Supreme Credit Corporation Ltd.
Investigators traced a transfer of Rs 1.5 crore to a company linked to Pappu and uncovered transactions totaling Rs 16 crore over two years. Tripathi added, "Many undervalued properties were bought by Sona Pappu or with his assistance. There existed a nexus of officials and musclemen. A single individual could not have executed this alone."
Broader Implications
The case highlights a systematic pattern of land grabbing involving collusion between criminals and public officials. The ED continues to probe the financial trail to identify all beneficiaries and enablers in this racket.
