A massive cache of ₹28.5 crore in cash and 15 kilograms of gold was recovered during a police search at the residence of a former government bus driver in West Bengal's Birbhum district, triggering what officials describe as one of the state's biggest cash seizures linked to the stone trade.
The search operation, which began early on Wednesday at the residence of Minar Mondal in Mohammad Bazar, continued through the day as officials used note-counting machines to process bundles of currency stacked inside multiple trunks. Police said the counting was still underway and the final seizure figure could increase.
According to investigators, Mondal had resigned from his job as a driver with the North Bengal State Transport Corporation several years ago before entering the stone business.
Police point to alleged links with Birbhum's 'stone emperor'
Investigators said Minar Mondal is the brother-in-law of Nazibuddin Mondal alias Tulu Mondal, a prominent businessman widely known in Birbhum as the "stone emperor" because of his influence over the district's basalt stone trade.
Speaking to reporters late on Wednesday, Birbhum Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bundesh indicated that the seized money did not belong to Minar Mondal.
"The recovered cash belongs to Tulu Mondal," the Superintendent of Police said.
Police have launched a search for Tulu Mondal, who was reportedly untraceable throughout the day.
Who is Tulu Mondal?
Tulu Mondal is considered one of the most influential figures in Birbhum's stone mining and transportation business. He allegedly controls the movement of stone chips produced from quarries across Mohammad Bazar, Murarai and Nalhati through the issuance of Duplicate Carbon Receipts (DCRs), documents required for transporting stone-laden trucks.
Local traders claim that no truck carrying stone could leave crushing units without DCRs allegedly controlled by Mondal's network.
Investigators are now examining whether this control over the transport system enabled a large-scale revenue diversion from the state exchequer.
DCR system under scanner
Police sources said the investigation is focusing on alleged irregularities in the DCR collection mechanism introduced during the previous state government.
Officials suspect fake DCR receipts may have been issued while legitimate government revenue was siphoned off through an organised network involving multiple stakeholders.
Government data accessed by investigators reportedly shows a sharp increase in revenue collection after the present administration replaced the privately managed toll collection system in May this year.
According to state records, daily DCR revenue, which ranged between ₹19 lakh and ₹70 lakh under the earlier system, has since increased to more than ₹2 crore per day, with officials estimating collections could touch ₹3 crore daily.
Past allegations resurface
Tulu Mondal's name had earlier surfaced during investigations related to alleged cattle smuggling in Birbhum, although central agencies did not proceed due to insufficient evidence.
Police sources said Mondal later expanded his business interests through multiple companies registered in the names of family members. Investigators are examining whether these entities were used to route proceeds generated through illegal activities.
In recent months, complaints have also been lodged against him over alleged intimidation, illegal sand mining and obstruction of business operations.
Visuals from the search showed a heavy police deployment outside Minar Mondal's residence as officials continued the operation through the evening. Investigators believe the seizure could open a wider probe into alleged financial irregularities in the stone and sand trade in Birbhum.
