Kolkata: A major controversy has erupted in Kolkata’s real estate sector following coordinated raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday. The action is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged large-scale financial fraud and land-grabbing linked to absconding accused ‘Sona Pappu’.
According to ED officials, the probe is no longer limited to a single individual but is now expanding into a broader and more structured money laundering network. Investigators have indicated strong signs of illegal property transactions and real estate fraud involving multiple layers of operations.
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Searches Conducted in Alipore and Anandapur
Sources said the agency conducted searches at the residences of two prominent businessmen located in the Alipore and Anandapur areas of Kolkata. The raids were carried out based on inputs gathered from earlier interrogations and digital evidence, which reportedly pointed towards their suspected involvement in questionable financial activities.
A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “The searches are part of an ongoing investigation into financial irregularities and possible links with absconding accused Sona Pappu.”
Sona Pappu Under Scanner in Land-Grabbing Cases
Sona Pappu has been wanted in multiple cases related to land grabbing and financial fraud and has remained on the run for a considerable period. Investigators suspect that he built a structured network in collaboration with several business groups and local intermediaries, allegedly used to route illicit funds and manipulate property transactions.
Preliminary findings suggest that the two businessmen whose premises were searched may have acted as intermediaries within this network. The ED is also examining whether they knowingly facilitated illegal financial transactions or were unknowingly drawn into the broader scheme.
During the raids, ED teams reportedly seized several crucial documents, digital records, and financial data. These materials are currently under detailed scrutiny to establish evidence of money laundering and irregular property dealings. Officials believe the recovered data could play a key role in connecting various links within the suspected network.
Shell Companies and Cash Deals Under Investigation
Investigations indicate that the alleged network operated across multiple layers. It involved property deals, cash transactions, and the use of shell companies to obscure financial flows. Such complex structures have made it difficult for agencies to trace the complete flow of illegal funds.
Sources also revealed that Sona Pappu is already facing serious allegations in several cases involving illegal land acquisition and financial irregularities. It is suspected that he used local contacts and financial intermediaries to execute deals that bypassed regulatory norms.
ED officials have stated that more raids cannot be ruled out in the coming days as the scope of the investigation continues to expand. The agency is actively working to identify additional suspects and map the entire financial structure of the alleged network. The case has raised growing concerns over large-scale financial crimes in Kolkata’s real estate sector.
