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A Kolkata businessman, Jay Kamdar, who has been arrested under a money laundering case, used "considerable clout" among certain West Bengal police officers
and misused it to secure favors in land-related matters, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) claimed on Monday. Kamdar was held by the enforcement agency on April 19 after fresh raids were conducted against him. Post his arrest, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata sent him to nine days of ED custody, the agency said in a statement.
ED Searches Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner
The Enforcement Directorate also conducted searches at the premises of the Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (Special Branch), Shantanu Sinha Biswas, in connection with the money laundering probe against an alleged criminal syndicate led by Biswajit Podder aka Sona Pappu in the poll-bound state.
What ED Alleges
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Jay Kamdar was in close contact with several police officials, including Biswas. The probing agency further claimed that Kamdar "provided favours and expensive gifts to such officers, including their family members."
In a statement, ED alleged, "Investigation found that Kamdar wielded considerable clout and influence among a section of police officers and misused it for getting favours and lodging of complaints against unsuspecting individuals in land-related matters."
The agency further claimed that Kamdar was also involved in "extensive" illegal international cross-border and domestic hawala transactions through many shell companies.
It also claimed that Kamdar was in “close contact" with Podder and had "huge" financial transactions with him. The businessman also "supplied" firearms to Podder’s wife.
"However, she has failed to disclose anything related to the said purchase of the firearms from Kamdar or his company," it said.
ED First Conducted Search on April 1
The Enforcement Directorate had first conducted searches on April 1 and seized cash of Rs 1.47 crore, gold jewellery and silver valued at Rs 67.64 lakh, an SUV and an unlicensed revolver from some premises.
The probe stems from a Kolkata Police FIR against Podder for his alleged involvement in rioting, attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and Arms Act violations.
Podder is also wanted by the police in a case of violence at Kankulia Road near Golpark of Kolkata and is currently on the run. The ED issued a summons to Podder but he has failed to join the investigation, the agency said on April 1.
Assembly election campaigning is underway in West Bengal, which will have two-phase polling on April 23 and April 29.
With inputs from PTI
