Kankulia mastermind Sona Pappu, wanted in 15 cases, on the run
Times of India | 3 February 2026
Kolkata: The alleged mastermind for the Kankulia violence on Sunday, Biswajit Poddar alias Sona Pappu, has successfully evaded the police. For cops, Pappu is a familiar name. He was in and out of jail ever since he joined the construction business in 2010-11. From the start of his ‘business' in Ward 67, Pappu ensured he enjoyed political patronage. This allowed him free access to power. After he committed a murder at Bediadanga in 2017, he told an officer, "Don't try to catch me. You don't know my connections."
"About a decade ago, he worked at his father's jewellery shop in Picnic Garden. That's where he got the name Sona Pappu. Later, he ventured into the syndicate business in Kasba, quickly taking control of the area, due to his closeness with a former municipal coordinator. Pappu claimed he spent money to ensure the coordinator's victory, which led him to engage in illegal construction to recover those funds," said a former officer who arrested him twice.
Pappu tried to control the Ballygunge Rail Yard in 2015, and this brought him into conflict with another strongman, Munna Pandey. In 2017, Palash Jana was murdered over territorial disputes on Swinhoe Lane. Pappu was later arrested in Jalpaiguri.
Even though he was released on bail, cops said he still faces at least 15 charges, including attempted murder, rape, and multiple charges under the Arms Act. Munna also served time in several cases. In 2021, an attempt was made to attack Munna outside Presidency Jail with 25 associates. Even in this arrest, Pappu's link with leaders of the ruling party and their photographs together, came up.
Rashbehari MLA and MMiC Debashis Kumar said, "If someone commits a crime, regardless of who they are, cops will arrest them. I also demand his arrest. There might be several pictures of me with him because I am a public representative. Even the Prime Minister has pictures with Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi. Does that mean we should hold the PM responsible for the allegations against Nirav Modi?"
Ward 91 councillor and MMiC Baiswanor Chatterejee, questioned on attending the rice ceremony of Pappu's daughter, said as a public representative he would often be clicked with many people without knowing their criminal record. "I taught in a college and practised law for over three decades. Do not try to frame me. Do photos with Nirav Modi make PM Narendra Modi an accused?" he asked.