Karaya: Tuesday's murder was a possible syndicate fallout over the spoils of illegal real estate business in the Karaya area, police said.

Sheikh Idres alias Bhola, arrested on Tuesday evening on the charge of murdering Fazlur Rehman earlier in the day, is a key operator who has flourished, citing his suspected closeness to ruling party leaders.

There are many such operators in the Samsul Huda Road, Palm Avenue, Loha Pool and Bright Street area who thrive primarily by converting small standalone houses into high-rises by flouting Calcutta Municipal Corporation rules.

Unauthorised constructions, mostly G+5 structures, can be found in dingy lanes across Karaya. These are sold at Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000 per square feet and buyers rarely bother to check if the papers are valid.

"Legally, a flat in this part of Calcutta would cost more than Rs 1 crore," a man who is into illegal real estate business in the area said. "But one can get it for anything between Rs 30-35 lakh. A location behind the mall is always lucrative."

The deal is always in terms of tenancy, he said. "The buyer goes into an agreement with the seller as a tenant. He pays Re 1 per square feet as rent. The higher amount of Rs 3,500 per square feet is shown as security deposit."

Operators usually work in sync with building material suppliers to ensure there is no overlapping of areas.

There are two main syndicates in the Karaya area for building materials. Syndicate operators source sand from Howrah, iron rods from a dealer in the No. 4 bridge area and stone chips from Palm Avenue.

"A developer engages a labour contractor of his choice and the going rate is Rs 1,200-1,300 per square feet," the man said.

"There is a clause. At this rate he has to take care of local bosses, police and others. Even people of the area will have to be engaged for dumping building materials at the site."

Realtors develop a rapport with the police and civic authorities citing their closeness to ruling party leaders. Camps for blood donations and eye check-ups are organised to bring everyone on a single platform.

Cops, however, rubbished such allegations. "You will hardly get anyone willing file a complaint against a realtor for coming up with an unauthorised building," an officer of Karaya police station said.

Trinamul leaders denied any connection with such operators. "Tuesday's incident was a fallout between two friends. My party or I am in now way involved in illegal constructions," Iqbal Ahmed, deputy mayor and councillor of Ward 64, said.