West Bengal Police recovered nearly Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kilograms of gold during a major raid at the residence of Minar Mondal in Deucha village of Mohammad Bazar in Birbhum district. The search operation, which began late Tuesday night and continued until Wednesday evening, lasted for more than 18 hours as officials counted the seized cash. Following the raid, Minar Mondal was arrested by the police. Authorities described the recovery as one of the largest cash seizures in the state in recent years.

According to the police, Minar Mondal is a bus driver and a relative of Tulu Mondal, a stone trader who is considered a close associate of former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Anubrata Mondal. Investigators alleged that Minar confessed during questioning that the recovered cash and gold belonged to Tulu Mondal and were linked to an alleged illegal syndicate. Police are examining the authenticity of these claims as part of the ongoing investigation. Officials believe the seizure could provide important leads into a wider network.

Birbhum Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bhundesh said officers recovered Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kilograms of gold from the residence. The cash was found packed inside 35 nylon bags, with additional bundles stacked along the walls of the house. To complete the operation, police deployed five cash-counting machines and used five iron trunks to transport the seized currency. The scale of the recovery required an extended counting process before the official seizure was documented.

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The case has also drawn attention because of its alleged connection to Anubrata Mondal, who served as the TMC's Birbhum district president for over a decade and was once regarded as one of the party's most influential leaders in the region. Tulu Mondal, who is reportedly associated with Anubrata, recently joined a rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee. Investigators are examining whether the recovered assets have any links to activities involving the alleged syndicate or other financial irregularities.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari shared details of the operation on X, commending the police for carrying out the raid. He said the action reflected the government's "zero-tolerance policy" against corruption and asserted that public wealth belongs to the people. He added that those involved in looting public resources would face strict legal action and that the crackdown on alleged mafia syndicates would continue. Meanwhile, the massive seizure has prompted a broader investigation into the source of the cash and gold, with authorities working to identify all individuals connected to the alleged network.

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