Kolkata, May 19: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Vishwajit Poddar, also known as Sona Pappu, on Monday in connection with a financial fraud and extortion case.
Sona Pappu had been in the spotlight for various reasons ahead of the assembly elections. He faced allegations of involvement in several illegal activities but had been on the run for an extended period. However, he voluntarily appeared at the ED office located in the Salt Lake CGO Complex on Monday.
After nearly nine hours of questioning from morning until night, the ED took him into custody for his involvement in financial fraud and extortion.
Pappu’s name also surfaced in a clash that occurred in February in the Rabindra Sarovar police station area. Local residents alleged that he was behind the incident, with accusations against his associates for rioting and vandalism. While police arrested several individuals in connection with the case, Pappu remained elusive, prompting a continuous search for his whereabouts.
During his time on the run, Pappu went live on Facebook multiple times, asserting that he had no connection to any violence.
In April, while Pappu was still evading capture, the ED conducted a surprise raid at his residence. A simultaneous search was also carried out at the home of businessman Joy Kamdar.
During these operations, authorities seized cash, a luxury car, and various property-related documents. According to ED sources, a foreign pistol was also recovered from Pappu’s residence, reportedly purchased through Joy Kamdar. The pistol was later deposited at the Gariahat police station.
Pappu faces multiple allegations of extortion, with several FIRs filed against him. ED sources indicate that he is also charged under the Arms Act for threats and extortion. These allegations prompted the ED to initiate an investigation.
In this case, the central investigative agency had previously arrested businessman Joy Kamdar from Behala. Last month, the ED also raided the residence of Shantanu Sinha Biswas, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Kolkata, based on this investigation. He was interrogated at the police station before being arrested by the ED.
Given that Sona Pappu had been on the run for a significant time, investigators suspected he might be hiding in another state. However, he unexpectedly arrived at the ED office in Salt Lake on Monday, accompanied by his wife. Following extensive questioning, the central agency arrested him.
The ED had previously sent him multiple notices, but he consistently avoided appearing. On Monday, he arrived at the ED office without any new notice. According to ED sources, he was arrested for failing to cooperate with the investigation.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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