2 weeks ago
Bengal Police arrest land official over absconding quarry owner links
Police in West Bengal, India, arrested a government land office worker named Probir Das.
They think he was secretly helping a man named Tulu Mondal, who owns a stone quarry and is hiding from the police.
The police searched Das's home at night and found five mobile phones.
They say the phones have evidence that Das helped Mondal with illegal stone quarrying and selling.
A judge ordered Das to stay in police custody for six days while they investigate.
Das's wife says her husband is innocent and had nothing to do with it.
Tulu Mondal went into hiding after police found a huge amount of cash and gold at the home of his relative.
The cash was about 28 crore rupees, and the gold weighed 15 kilograms and was worth about 22 crore rupees.
Another government agency, the Enforcement Directorate, is also starting to look into Mondal's activities.
West Bengal Police arrested Probir Das, head assistant at the Suri sub-divisional Land and Land Revenue Department office, for alleged links with absconding quarry owner Tulu Mondal.
Das was remanded to six-day police custody by a Birbhum district court following a night-long raid at his residence in Suri.
Five mobile phones were seized, and public prosecutor Bivas Chattopadhyay said investigators found incriminating evidence linking Das to Mondal's illegal stone quarrying and stone trading.
Tulu Mondal has been absconding since Rs 28 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold, valued at around Rs 22 crore, were recovered from the residence of his relative Minar Mondal.
The Enforcement Directorate is preparing a probe into Mondal's activities, and Mondal is a close associate of former Birbhum TMC president Anubrata Mondal.
- Who
- Probir Das, head assistant at the Suri sub-divisional office of the Land and Land Revenue Department; absconding quarry owner Tulu Mondal alias Mohammad Nazibuddin; Birbhum District Police; Enforcement Directorate; public prosecutor Bivas Chattopadhyay
- What
- Das was arrested for alleged links with Mondal's illegal stone quarrying and stone trading operations and remanded to six-day police custody; five mobile phones were seized as evidence
- Where
- Suri and Birbhum district, West Bengal
- When
- On Saturday, when the arrest, raid and court production took place; the cash and gold seizure occurred earlier this month
- Why
- Investigators found incriminating evidence on seized phones linking Das to Mondal's illegal stone quarrying and trading; Das's wife claims he is innocent
Investigation side
Defense side
Probir Das's alleged involvement
Investigation side
Public prosecutor Bivas Chattopadhyay told the court that five mobile phones were seized and investigators found incriminating evidence linking Das to Mondal's illegal stone quarrying and stone trading operations.
Defense side
Sathi Das, the arrested official's wife, claimed her husband was innocent and had no involvement in the alleged activities.
Key facts
- Accused official
- Probir Das, head assistant at Suri sub-divisional office of Land and Land Revenue Department
- Police unit
- Birbhum District Police (West Bengal Police)
- Custody
- Six-day police custody remanded by Birbhum district court
- Items seized
- Five mobile phones from Das's Suri residence
- Cash recovered
- Rs 28 crore from Minar Mondal's residence
- Gold recovered
- 15 kg, valued at around Rs 22 crore
- Absconding accused
- Tulu Mondal alias Mohammad Nazibuddin, stone quarry owner
- Agencies involved
- Enforcement Directorate preparing probe; ED also linked Mondal to the cattle smuggling case since 2022
Quotes
Bivas Chattopadhyay
Public prosecutor in the Birbhum district court
“"Five mobile phones were seized during the raid, and we found incriminating evidence linking Probir Das to Mr. Mondal’s illegal stone quarrying and stone trading operations."”
thehansindia.com
“"I am innocent and have no connection with the illegal quarrying activities."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
Related news
Bengal Police raid fugitive trader Tulu Mondal's in-laws' homes
Court Extends Custody as Tulu Mondal Property Probe Expands
Red Corner notice issued against absconding stone quarry owner
Police Paste Court Summons at Absconding Tulu Mondal's Bengal Home
Birbhum strongman's ex-bodyguard held in Tulu Mondal cash case
TMC Alleges Police Misuse and Denial of Legal Notices
Kolkata Janmashtami Committee Shift Sparks Religious Harmony Debate
Jadavpur VC Urges Students to Move Views From Walls Online
Bengal’s New BJP Government Faces Test Beyond Victory
Twenty NCPI MPs Seek Extension in TMC Disqualification Case
