Birbhum district police in West Bengal launched search operations at a second property linked to absconding stone quarry owner Tulu Mondal, also known as Mohammad Nazibuddin, in Suri town on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, 4 September, officials confirmed. The raids are part of an intensifying crackdown on unaccounted assets allegedly connected to the businessman, widely referred to as the 'Stone Baron' of Birbhum.

What the Search Uncovered

According to a district police officer, the operation targets assets allegedly held in Mondal's name at the Suri property, which his manager Choton is believed to have been occupying. Choton is also absconding, and police were simultaneously attempting to locate him during the search. Operations were still ongoing when reports were filed.

The ₹50 Crore Cache That Triggered the Probe

Mondal first came under the scanner of the Birbhum district police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after a dramatic seizure earlier this month — cash worth ₹28 crore and 15 kg of gold, valued at approximately ₹22 crore, were recovered from the residence of his close relative, Minar Mondal. During subsequent questioning, Minar reportedly admitted that the seized cash and gold belonged to Tulu Mondal and that he had merely been entrusted with safeguarding them.

Legal Net Tightens Around the Absconding Accused

With Mondal remaining underground, police last week obtained an arrest warrant from a Birbhum court and initiated proceedings for an Interpol Red Corner Notice, which has since been issued. The court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate in Suri has directed Mondal to appear within a stipulated period, warning that failure to do so would result in him being declared a proclaimed offender.

Mondal sought legal protection through separate petitions before the Calcutta High Court, approaching the benches of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya and Justice Kaushik Chanda. Justice Chanda recused himself as a related case was already pending before another bench. An earlier plea seeking protection from arrest was dismissed by the High Court.

What Happens Next

Investigators are expected to expand the asset-tracing exercise as the ED probe runs parallel to the police operation. With an Interpol notice active and a proclaimed offender declaration imminent, the legal pressure on Mondal is escalating rapidly. The Birbhum case has drawn wider attention given the scale of the alleged cash hoard and the political economy of the stone quarry trade in the district.