Fresh ED searches across Kolkata and Murshidabad have widened the probe into alleged land syndicate-linked money laundering involving a former police officer and local mafia figure.
File image (Photo: IANS)
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday carried out raids across several locations in Kolkata and Murshidabad as part of its ongoing money laundering investigation linked to alleged land syndicates involving former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Sinha Biswas and local land mafia figure Biswajit Poddar, popularly known as Sona Pappu.
The fresh searches come weeks after both Sinha Biswas and Sona Pappu were arrested by the ED in connection with the same probe. Investigators are now widening the trail to individuals allegedly linked to the network, including businessmen, hotel operators and police personnel.
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ED teams began simultaneous search operations early Friday morning at multiple locations in Kolkata.
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One of the first raids was conducted at the residence of a businessman in the Chakraberia area of Bhabanipur in south Kolkata. Around the same time, another ED team reached a hotel on Royd Street in central Kolkata and initiated searches after speaking to the hotel management.
Sources said the hotel owner has been asked to appear before investigating officials for questioning.
A separate ED team also conducted searches at the residence of a police officer in Kasba in south Kolkata. Sources claimed the officer is considered close to Sinha Biswas.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, the names of the businessman, hotel owner and police officer surfaced during the interrogation of Sinha Biswas and Sona Pappu following their arrest earlier this month.
“The raids are aimed at gathering corroborative evidence linked to the alleged money laundering and land syndicate operations,” a source said.
Apart from Kolkata, ED officials also conducted searches at a mansion owned by Sinha Biswas in Kandi town of Murshidabad district.
The property, located in ward number eight of Kandi Municipality, is believed to be the ancestral home of the former police officer. His sister, Gauri Biswas, vice-chairperson of the Trinamool Congress-run Kandi Municipality, reportedly resided there.
Locals claimed the house had remained locked since Sinha Biswas was arrested earlier this month. ED officials allegedly had to break open the main gate lock to enter the premises and begin search operations.
Raids were still underway at the time of filing this report.
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