A massive police raid at a residence in Mohammad Bazar in West Bengal’s Birbhum district led to the recovery of nearly Rs 29 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold, with officials continuing to count the seized money till Wednesday evening.
The cash, gold bars and currency counting machines recovered from the two-storey house drew large crowds after the operation began late Tuesday night.
According to police, the raid was carried out at the residence of Minar Mondal, a relative of Tulu Mondal, a stone trader. Minar Mondal was and a former government bus driver. Tulu Mondal is also known to be a close associate of former Trinamool Congress MLA Anubrata Mondal, who joined the camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee earlier this month.
According to Birbhum SP Vidit
Rai Bhundesh, the recovered cash and gold are linked to the proceeds of an organised crime syndicate allegedly operated by Tulu Mondal, his relative Minar Mondal, and others.
Police recover cash and gold
Police said they received source information that illegal cash and gold linked to an organised syndicate had been stored at the residence of a close aide of Tulu Mondal, identified as Najibuddin.
During the raid, police recovered nearly Rs 29 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold from the house of Minar Mondal. Officials said the premises was allegedly being used to operate a syndicate. One person has been detained in connection with the case.
The recovery of large quantities of cash and gold has triggered a wider investigation into the source of the assets and the alleged network behind them.
Speaking on this, Minister Agnimitra Paul said, “Tulu Mondal was very close to the previous government of Mamata Banerjee. Today from his house, gold, money are being recovered… Today these type of people who have cheated and looted the people of Bengal. The people of Bengal have exposed the Mamata Banerjee’s government.”
Probe to examine wealth and illegal activities
Investigators will examine how Tulu Mondal allegedly amassed wealth worth hundreds of crores. The probe will also focus on his alleged involvement in illegal sand mining, stone quarrying, and Dispatch Clearance Receipt (DCR) fraud.
Police are also looking into his alleged links with influential political and business figures. The investigation will examine whether he enjoyed the patronage of Anubrata Mondal or had connections extending to Kolkata.
Luxury assets, Dubai hotel claim under scanner
Investigators will further examine Tulu Mondal’s reported luxury assets and land holdings, along with claims that he owns a hotel in Dubai.
The investigation will also cover his daughter’s high-profile wedding and the alleged links of his son-in-law’s family to a gold smuggling case.
Another aspect of the probe will be whether the alleged revenue loss caused by illegal quarrying benefited only local political leaders or extended to higher levels of the administration.
The recovery of cash, gold and currency counting machines from the Birbhum property has placed the alleged syndicate and its suspected financial network under the scanner as the investigation continues.
