Cash seizure in Bengal's Cooch Behar ahead of Assembly polls; Rs 18 lakh found
Kolkata, March 25 : Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections, cash worth lakhs has once again been seized in the state. This time, a search conducted at a checkpoint near the Naya Bazar area of Cooch Behar district in north Bengal led to the recovery of Rs 18 lakh, police said on Wednesday.
The money was being transported in a car. As the driver failed to produce any supporting documents for the cash, the police detained him. Officials from the Election Commission were also present during the checkpoint inspection. A report regarding the incident has been submitted to the District Magistrate. The specific purpose for which the money was being transported remains unknown. Investigators are currently interrogating the detained individual in an effort to ascertain the source of the funds.
On Wednesday, a naka checking drive was being conducted on the Sitai-Sitalkuchi State Highway near Nutan Bazar in the Sitalkuchi block. During this operation, Election Commission officials present at the scene intercepted a red four-wheeler travelling from Goshaighat towards Dinhata.
“Upon searching the vehicle, a sum of Rs 18 lakh was recovered. When questioned about the source of the money, the driver provided inconsistent explanations,” said a senior officer of Cooch Behar district police.
The police seized the cash and detained the driver.
Election Commission official Souvik Mitra and Anthony Horo, the Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sitalkuchi Police Station, were present at the spot while the naka checking was underway.
Police officials said such search operations would continue in the run-up to the elections.
A few days ago, police recovered over Rs 3.70 lakh in cash from three separate vehicles during searches conducted at two different naka checking points along the Bengal-Assam border. Additionally, Rs 25 lakh was recovered from the trunk of a car within the jurisdiction of Eco Park Police Station in Kolkata. In all these instances, no supporting documentation could be produced for the recovered cash.