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🇮🇳 India /Crime & Justice

₹28.5 crore cash, 15 kg gold seized from retired driver's house in Bengal

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Police in West Bengal, India, seized approximately $28.5 million in cash and 15 kg of gold bars worth about $20 million from a retired bus driver's home.
  • The house owner claims the assets belong to his brother-in-law, who is wanted in a murder case and allegedly linked to illegal stone, sand, and coal trades.
  • The brother-in-law, identified as Tulu Mondal, has been absconding since May and was reportedly an aide to a TMC leader.

Authorities in West Bengal, India, have seized a significant cache of cash and gold from the residence of a retired government bus driver. Following a 20-hour search in Deucha village, Birbhum district, police recovered approximately 28.5 crore Indian Rupees (about $3.4 million USD) in cash and 15 kilograms of gold bars valued at around 20 crore Rupees (approximately $2.4 million USD).

During preliminary interrogation, he told police that the cash and gold belonged to his brother-in-law, Tulu Mondal alias Mohd Nazibuddin, who was arrested in a murder case in 2022 and later questioned by central agencies over alleged links to illegal stone, sand and coal trades.

— Police officerA police officer detailed the initial findings from the interrogation of the house owner.

The owner of the house, Minar Mondal, is currently being questioned by police. During initial interrogations, Mondal stated that the seized cash and gold belong to his brother-in-law, Tulu Mondal, also known as Mohd Nazibuddin. Tulu Mondal was arrested in 2022 for a murder case and subsequently questioned by central agencies regarding alleged ties to illegal stone, sand, and coal businesses.

According to police, Tulu Mondal was released on bail in the murder case but has been on the run since May. He is accused of operating hundreds of dumper trucks for transporting illegally quarried stone and sand, and managing several toll-tax booths. Minar Mondal was reportedly in charge of one of these booths. Tulu Mondal was also known to be an associate of Anubrata Mondal, a leader within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, before he disappeared following the assembly election results.

Tulu Mondal was released on bail in the murder case. He has been absconding since May. He used to operate a few hundred dumper trucks to transport illegally quarried stone and sand. He also operated several toll-tax booths. Minar was in charge of one of the booths.

— Police officerThe officer provided background information on Tulu Mondal's alleged illegal activities.

TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh has called for strong government action in response to the seizure and the alleged criminal activities. The investigation is ongoing as authorities seek to unravel the full extent of the financial network and alleged illegal operations.

I request the government to take strong action.

— TMC MLA Kunal GhoshThe MLA commented on the situation, calling for government intervention.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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