Kolkata, August 15: Joy Kamdar, a businessman and real estate promoter from Kolkata, has reached out to a central agency to request government witness status in a land grab case. He was arrested earlier this year by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges related to multiple illegal land acquisition activities.
According to sources, Kamdar’s lawyer has filed a formal petition in Kolkata’s Special PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act) Court, where the case is currently being heard.
It remains unclear whether the ED will accept Kamdar’s appeal or if the court will grant him the status of ‘approver’ (government witness). The Special PMLA Court has given the agency until August 25 to respond to this proposal.
This case centers around an illegal land acquisition nexus involving Kamdar, land mafia leader Bishwajit Poddar, also known as Sona Pappu, and former Kolkata Deputy Commissioner of Police Shantanu Sinha Biswas.
Kamdar was arrested in April, while Sinha Biswas and Poddar were taken into custody in May. Investigators claim that the trio amassed significant illegal wealth through their land grabbing activities.
The ED has alleged that the accused engaged in transactions of illegal earnings through hawala channels. Investigators traced Kamdar’s communications with hawala operators in Malaysia, the UK, and Dubai, later uncovering significant real estate assets linked to Kamdar and Sinha Biswas in the Bolpur-Shantiniketan area of Birbhum district, acquired using unaccounted money.
If Kamdar’s petition is accepted, he will need to provide a confidential statement before a judicial magistrate. Such testimony could strengthen the prosecution’s case against other accused individuals.
Legal experts suggest that under Indian law, an accused person can become a government witness, but the process is complex and involves several stages. The investigating agency must assess the proposal and its legal implications before seeking court approval.
The final decision rests with the presiding judge, who must document reasons before granting such status and consider all relevant legal aspects.
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