Kolkata, May 28 (IANS) Former Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shantanu Sinha Biswas and real estate developer Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu were produced before the Bankshall court on Thursday as the ED custody period expired.

Shantanu’s lawyer requested the judge to grant his client the status of a ‘Grade One’ prisoner.

Shantanu’s lawyer said on Thursday, “Shantanu has a threat to his life. My client has conducted important investigations in several police stations. Several accused have been arrested and are in jail as a result of his investigations. Therefore, I am requesting that he be granted the status of a ‘Grade One’ prisoner in jail.”

The ED’s lawyer requested judicial custody of the arrested former police officer.

However, the ED is unclear as to why Shantanu is applying for Grade One prisoner status.

The ED lawyer said that the jail authorities should determine whether the situation for which Shantanu is applying has been created.

Sona Pappu’s lawyer also did not apply for bail.

However, he requested the judge to provide proper treatment for his client in judicial custody.

Notably, the ED arrested real estate developer Sona Pappu this month in a syndicate case.

He is accused of acquiring other people’s land and property at low prices by threatening them.

He was also allegedly involved in a clash between two groups in the Rabindra Sarovar area in February this year.

While investigating that incident, several allegations against him surfaced.

The central investigation agency informed the court that a gang of three people associated with Sona Pappu was involved in this regard.

Businessman Joy Kamdar was also arrested in connection with the same case.

It is alleged that they operated a land syndicate and were highly influential in the area.

The ED claims that Shantanu was associated with them.

On May 14, Shantanu was summoned for questioning at the CGO Complex and was subsequently arrested in the same case.

The ED informed the court that it had found multiple illegal financial transactions linked to him.

–IANS

sch/dan