Kolkata, April 19 The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday arrested Kolkata-based businessman Joy Kamdar after conducting raids against him and Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas as part of a money laundering probe into an alleged criminal-linked syndicate.
Kamdar, Managing Director of Sun Enterprise, was taken into custody after four hours of questioning, an ED official said.
He was detained from his residence in the Behala area of south Kolkata during raids early in the morning and brought to the ED office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake. After questioning, he was arrested under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He will be produced before a court, where the agency will seek his custody for detailed questioning, officials said.
However, on the way to a hospital for a medical check-up, the businessman fell ill. He was then taken to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for further check-up. It is not clear whether he would be produced before a court on Sunday.
Earlier in the day, ED officials conducted a raid at his residence in Behala. The ED also raided two premises of Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas in the Ballygunge area of south Kolkata as part of the same operation.
“ED is raiding Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner Shantanu Sinha Biswas’s residence in Ballygunge and Sun Enterprise Managing Director Joy Kamdar’s residence in Behala. So far, two premises belonging to Shantanu Sinha Biswas and one belonging to Joy Kamdar have been raided in connection with Sona Pappu and Joy Kamdar in a case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002,” said a statement issued by the ED earlier in the day.
Locals claimed that Kamdar is mainly involved in the business of promoting (real estate development) and construction. His house had been searched earlier as well. His name came up during the search of Sona Pappu’s house earlier this month. The central investigation agency had recovered cash from his house in Behala. The ED had also summoned the businessman twice for questioning. However, he avoided appearing on both occasions. After that, ED officials went to his house again on Sunday.
The raid was conducted to investigate a money laundering case against Sona Pappu, who is booked in multiple cases on charges of attempted murder and extortion, an ED official said.
Sona Pappu allegedly runs syndicates in the south Kolkata areas of Kasba and Ballygunge and has several FIRs against him over various allegations. He is also a prime accused in the Golpark clashes that took place in February. He is at present absconding and from time to time has gone live on social media to target the central investigation agency for allegedly harassing his family members.
Officials have alleged that Pappu used to extort crores of rupees from construction companies, which would be rerouted to influential people. The ED conducted the first round of searches in this case on April 1.
The ED had then seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore, apart from gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh, and a country-made revolver from some premises that were searched.
The investigation stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against Pappu for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy, and Arms Act violations.
The accused, including Pappu, were engaged in organised criminal syndicate activities in West Bengal and generated funds illegally through syndicate operations, the ED said in a statement on April 9. The ED had issued summons to Pappu, but he has failed to appear before its officials so far.
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