GRP Recovers ₹1.40 Crore in Cash from Train Passenger at Kharagpur Station ; TMC Office Cash Seizure Sparks Political Row
GRP Recovers ₹1.40 Crore in Cash from Train Passenger at Kharagpur Station ; TMC Office Cash Seizure Sparks Political Row
The Government Railway Police (GRP) recovered a massive ₹1.40 crore in cash from a train passenger at Kharagpur Railway Station in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district. The cash, reportedly being transported from Tatanagar in Jharkhand to Howrah, was seized before it could reach its destination. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident.
According to GRP officials, the incident took place in the morning when the Jan Shatabdi Express arrived at Kharagpur station. Personnel on duty noticed suspicious behaviour by a passenger identified as Rahul Soni, who was standing on Platform No. 7 carrying three bags — one on his back and two in his hands.
When the GRP personnel approached him, he allegedly attempted to flee but was eventually apprehended. During questioning, he reportedly failed to provide satisfactory answers regarding his journey and the contents of his bags.
A subsequent search led to the recovery of 280 bundles of ₹500 currency notes, amounting to approximately ₹1.40 crore. Unable to explain the source of such a huge amount, the passenger was detained and subsequently arrested. The Income Tax Department was also informed.
Railway Police Superintendent (Kharagpur) Jayant Mukherjee stated that the arrested passenger, who reportedly resides in Howrah, is being questioned to establish the source and intended destination of the money. Investigators are also trying to determine from whom he collected the cash in Tatanagar and for what purpose it was being transported.
### ₹1.02 Crore Recovered from TMC Office in Diamond Harbour
Meanwhile, the recovery of another substantial amount of cash from a Trinamool Congress (TMC) office in Sarisha, under the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha constituency in South 24 Parganas, has triggered a major political controversy in West Bengal.
According to police, a search operation at the party office led to the recovery of ₹1,02,79,000 in cash. The operation was conducted following information reportedly obtained during the questioning of Sumit Roy, who is said to be a close associate of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.
Additional Superintendent of Police of Diamond Harbour Police District, Abhishek Majumdar, stated that the police received certain leads during questioning and subsequently conducted a search at the premises.
The office was reportedly linked to Magrahat West MLA Shamim Ahmed, although the police have not made a final confirmation regarding the ownership of the recovered money or the premises.
Police are now investigating the source of the cash and its intended use.
### CM Suvendu Adhikari Targets Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee
The cash recovery has intensified the political confrontation between the ruling establishment and the Trinamool Congress.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari launched a sharp attack on Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, alleging that the recovered amount represents only a small fraction of a much larger corruption network.
Speaking at a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, Adhikari alleged that public funds had been misused and channelled into party offices. He further claimed that money had been transferred abroad and asserted that investigations could expose more details.
The Chief Minister described the recovery as a glimpse into alleged large-scale financial irregularities and called for strict action against those found responsible.
However, these remain political allegations, and the source and ownership of the seized cash are yet to be established through the investigation.
### TMC Questions Police Action, Alleges Political Conspiracy
The Trinamool Congress has strongly questioned the police operation, alleging that the cash was deliberately planted to frame and defame the party.
The party also claimed that the concerned premises had already been vacated and alleged that the office had been vandalised in May.
TMC's legal representatives further raised concerns over the questioning of Sumit Roy, alleging that pressure was exerted on him while in police custody. These allegations have not been independently established.
Abhishek Banerjee also reportedly claimed that the recovered money had been planted by the police.
The party has questioned the timing and circumstances of the operation, describing it as politically motivated.
### Abhishek Banerjee and Earlier Investigations
The latest controversy has once again brought Abhishek Banerjee's name into the political spotlight, particularly against the backdrop of earlier investigations involving alleged coal smuggling and the teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal.
In the coal smuggling case, the CBI investigated alleged illegal coal mining and transportation, with Anup Majhi, popularly known as Lala, emerging as a key accused. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also investigated alleged money laundering linked to the case.
Abhishek Banerjee and his wife were previously summoned by the ED for questioning in connection with the investigation. The Supreme Court's 2024 proceedings also dealt with aspects of the probe.
However, being named or questioned in an investigation does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt.
With ₹1.40 crore recovered from a train passenger at Kharagpur and over ₹1.02 crore seized from a TMC-linked office in Diamond Harbour, the two incidents have added a fresh dimension to the ongoing political confrontation in West Bengal. Investigations are underway to establish the source, ownership and intended use of the recovered money.
Kharagpur GRP Cash Seizure, ₹1.40 Crore Cash Recovery, TMC Office Cash Seizure, Diamond Harbour News, Suvendu Adhikari, Abhishek Banerjee.
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