Bengal Police seize ₹32 crore cash, 10 kg gold in Birbhum raid on quarry owner's kin
Synopsis
West Bengal Police walked into a Birbhum home and found what is estimated to be ₹32 crore in cash and 10 kg of gold — belonging to a bus driver who locals say ran the quarry operations of Tulu Mondal, a figure already on the ED's radar from the 2022 cattle smuggling case. Five bank currency-counting machines are still tallying the haul.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police raided the home of Minar Mondal in Birbhum district on 29 July .
An estimated ₹32 crore in cash and approximately 10 kg of gold were recovered; counting is ongoing.
Minar Mondal is a close relative of Tulu Mondal , a stone-quarry owner previously named in West Bengal's cattle smuggling case.
Tulu Mondal was linked to former TMC Birbhum chief Anubrata Mondal , who was arrested by the CBI and ED in 2022 .
Investigators are probing whether the seized assets are beneficially owned by Tulu Mondal .
West Bengal Police on Wednesday morning, 29 July conducted a surprise raid on the residence of Minar Mondal in Birbhum district, recovering an estimated ₹32 crore in cash and approximately 10 kg of gold. Minar Mondal is identified as a close relative of Tulu Mondal, a prominent stone-quarry owner in the district with documented links to a high-profile cattle smuggling case.
What Was Recovered
Counting of the seized cash was still underway as of Wednesday morning, with authorities deploying five currency-counting machines sourced from a nearby public sector bank branch. An officer from the investigating team placed the preliminary estimate at around ₹32 crore, cautioning that the exact figure — along with the market value of the seized gold — would be confirmed once the process is complete.
'Apart from this huge unaccounted cash, gold weighing around 10 kilograms has also been recovered from the residence of Minar Mondal, a close relative of Tulu Mondal, an influential stone-quarry owner in Birbhum district,' the investigating officer said.
Who Is Minar Mondal
Minar Mondal was reportedly employed as a bus driver with the state-run transport corporation. However, locals told investigators that he was deeply involved in Tulu Mondal's stone-quarry operations. The scale of the seizure from his home has, according to reports, left neighbours stunned.
The Tulu Mondal Connection
Tulu Mondal was widely regarded in Birbhum as a close associate of Anubrata Mondal, the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Birbhum district president. Anubrata Mondal was arrested first by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and subsequently by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2022 in connection with West Bengal's cattle smuggling case.
Tulu Mondal's name had also surfaced in that investigation. The ED had raided his house and office in 2022, and he remained under the agency's watch at the time. He was additionally accused of illegal stone mining in Birbhum. Following TMC's defeat in the state Assembly election, Tulu Mondal reportedly shifted allegiance to a rebel faction within the party led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee.
What Investigators Are Probing
Authorities are now examining whether the cash and gold found at Minar Mondal's residence were beneficially owned by Tulu Mondal. This comes amid a broader pattern of ED and CBI scrutiny of alleged financial networks linked to the Birbhum cattle smuggling case, which has already ensnared several politically connected figures in the district.
The final recovery figures are expected to be disclosed once the counting and valuation process concludes.
Point of View
Particularly given that the ED had already raided Tulu Mondal's premises in 2022. The shift of Tulu Mondal to a rebel TMC faction after the party's electoral setback adds a political dimension that investigators will need to untangle from the financial one.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did West Bengal Police recover in the Birbhum raid on 29 July?
Police recovered an estimated ₹32 crore in cash and approximately 10 kg of gold from the residence of Minar Mondal in Birbhum. Five currency-counting machines were brought in from a public sector bank to tally the cash, with the final figure to be confirmed after counting is complete.
Who is Minar Mondal and what is his connection to Tulu Mondal?
Minar Mondal is a close relative of Tulu Mondal, an influential stone-quarry owner in Birbhum district. Though Minar Mondal was reportedly employed as a bus driver with a state transport corporation, locals say he was heavily involved in Tulu Mondal's quarry business.
Who is Tulu Mondal and why is he significant?
Tulu Mondal is a Birbhum-based stone-quarry owner known as a close associate of Anubrata Mondal, the former TMC Birbhum district president. Tulu Mondal's name surfaced in the 2022 cattle smuggling case, and the ED had raided his house and office at the time. He was also accused of illegal stone mining.
What is the cattle smuggling case link?
The cattle smuggling case in West Bengal led to the arrest of Anubrata Mondal — a senior TMC leader — by both the CBI and ED in 2022. Tulu Mondal, a known associate of Anubrata Mondal, was also named in that investigation and was under ED watch. Investigators are now examining whether Wednesday's seizure is connected to those earlier financial networks.
What happens next in the investigation?
Authorities are continuing to count the seized cash and assess the market value of the gold before making a final disclosure. The key question investigators are pursuing is whether the assets found at Minar Mondal's residence were beneficially owned by Tulu Mondal.
