Nearly 30 Kolkata Police personnel are under the Enforcement Directorate’s scanner in connection with an alleged land grabbing racket in the city, with investigators examining suspected links between police personnel of different ranks and a syndicate accused of coercing senior citizens into selling properties at below market prices.
Police Links and Digital Evidence Under Review
A senior ED official said several police personnel had come under the scanner during the course of the investigation and that their exact role was being examined. The agency has identified certain documents and digital evidence, which are now being analysed as part of the probe.
Investigators said the focus has shifted to establishing the money trail and identifying all beneficiaries linked to the alleged racket. The agency also said that some data from seized mobile phones appeared to have been deleted and that efforts were under way to retrieve the information through forensic examination.
The expanding inquiry suggests that investigators are looking beyond the principal accused and into the broader network that may have supported or benefited from the alleged transactions.
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Three Arrested Accused at Centre of Probe
The ED is currently probing the role of three arrested accused in the case: Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu, former Kolkata Police deputy commissioner Santanu Sinha Biswas, and businessman Joy Kamdar. According to investigators, the alleged racket mainly targeted senior citizens and forced them to sell land below market value through intimidation before the properties were developed.
Officials said the syndicate was involved in the misuse of police influence. While Sona Pappu allegedly threatened targeted property owners, Sinha Biswas is accused of using local police machinery to exert pressure on victims and compel them to part with their land at undervalued rates.
The properties, according to the investigation, were then allegedly acquired and developed through business links connected to Kamdar.
Searches Expand to More Linked Individuals
As part of the investigation, ED officials on Friday carried out searches at multiple locations linked to businessman Mohammad Ali alias Max Raju, Saurav Adhikari, identified as the nephew of Sinha Biswas, and sub inspector Ruhil Amin Ali. Investigators also searched the residence of Sinha Biswas in Murshidabad district.
The ED said nearly 30 police personnel were now under scrutiny in the case, indicating the scale of the inquiry and the possibility of a wider support structure behind the alleged land grab network. With forensic examination of devices under way and financial trails being mapped, the agency appears to be building a larger picture of how the alleged syndicate operated and who may have benefited from it.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
