ED Conducts Multi-City Raids in Kolkata Targets Sona Pappu in Major Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a series of coordinated raids across multiple locations in Kolkata early Wednesday morning, focusing on the financial dealings of a prominent businessman popularly known as “Sona Pappu.” The operation, which began simultaneously at residential and commercial properties in areas including Burrabazar and Alipore, is part of a wider investigation into a large-scale money laundering racket allegedly involving the diversion of illicit funds through shell companies. Sleuths from the federal agency, accompanied by central paramilitary forces, were seen entering high-end apartments and office complexes to seize digital devices, property documents, and several “incriminating” ledgers.

The probe into Sona Pappu’s activities reportedly stems from suspicious cross-border transactions and high-value investments that do not align with his declared sources of income. Investigators believe that a network of middlemen was used to “layer” funds obtained through illegal trade, eventually integrating them into the formal economy through real estate and gold jewelry businesses. While the ED has not yet made a formal statement regarding the total valuation of the suspected scam, sources indicate that several bank accounts have been frozen and a few close associates are being questioned to trace the “money trail.” The raids have sent ripples through the city’s business circles, as the agency continues to scrutinize the link between local power brokers and the movement of unaccounted wealth.