Police in the Birbhum district of West Bengal have uncovered a massive hidden cache of illicit wealth exceeding Rs 50 crore following a targeted raid at the residence of Minar Mandal. Acting on specific intelligence extracted from a group of dacoits arrested earlier in the week, a special police contingent launched a 24-hour operation that led to the discovery of Rs 28.5 crore in cash stuffed inside 35 sacks, along with 15 kilograms of gold valued at approximately Rs 21 crore. Given the scale of the recovery and its links to an organized syndicate, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped in to initiate a comprehensive financial investigation into the money trail.
Dacoit Arrests Unravel Secret Mining Syndicate
The breakthrough originated on Tuesday when Birbhum police apprehended several dacoits operating across the border areas of Dumka in Jharkhand and Mohammad Bazar in West Bengal. During intensive interrogation, the arrested criminals disclosed critical details regarding Minar Mandal and the hidden assets kept at his location. Promptly acting on the lead, the Superintendent of Police in Birbhum dispatched a specialized force to surround the premise. The search operation continued uninterrupted for a full 24 hours, culminating in the official confirmation of the massive seizure by top police officials.
35 Sacks of Cash and Marathon Counting Sessions
Upon gaining entry into Minar Mandal's house, investigating officers discovered 35 burlap sacks alongside two large trunks packed with Indian currency notes and gold ornaments. Because the volume of paper currency was far too large for manual verification, authorities arranged for multiple automated currency counting machines from a nearby bank. The counting process commenced on Wednesday afternoon and extended continuously overnight until Thursday morning. Although Minar Mandal initially offered evasive and misleading answers, he eventually confessed during questioning that the funds belonged to a sprawling criminal syndicate tied to illegal stone and sand mining. He was subsequently taken into custody and presented before the district court in Suri, where police requested extended custodial remand to trace remaining syndicate operatives.
From Transport Bus Driver to Multi-Crore Manager
Investigations into Minar Mandal's background revealed a dramatic shift in financial standing. Originally employed as a modest bus driver for the State Transport Corporation, he later aligned himself with Tulu Mandal, a prominent stone businessman facing prior allegations of unlawful quarrying. Minar Mandal, who is also Tulu Mandal's brother-in-law, eventually assumed the role of key manager for the business operations. The recovery of over Rs 50 crore from the residence of a former transport worker has sent shockwaves through the local community in Birbhum.
Political Links and ED Probe Into Money Trail
Following the disclosure of the unaccounted funds, the Enforcement Directorate launched a parallel probe to map out the financial channels and identify the ultimate owners of the seized assets. Investigations indicate that stone trader Tulu Mandal maintains close ties with former TMC leader Anubrata Mandal, who has previously been under the scanner of central investigative agencies in connection with a cattle smuggling case. Officials are currently probing whether the seized wealth represents proceeds of crime or political funds belonging to influential figures. The ongoing crackdown has created intense ripples across political circles in West Bengal, with authorities auditing the assets of everyone connected to the syndicate.
