Kolkata: The West Bengal Police on Wednesday searched the residences of absconding stone trader Tulu Mondal's in-laws in Birbhum district as part of its probe following the recovery of cash and gold worth nearly Rs 50 crore from his kin's house, a senior officer said.
The raids at three houses were conducted jointly by the Special Task Force (STF) and the Birbhum district police.
The officer said the residences of Mondal's father-in-law Nurul Alam, brother-in-law Mintu Sheikh and relative Nurul Islam were searched in the morning.
According to the police officer, investigators recovered a suspicious bag, and it was being examined.
However, Nurul Alam told reporters that nothing was seized from his house. "There is nothing in our house. They did not recover or seize anything from here," he said.
Talking to reporters about the raid, the police officer said Mintu Sheikh was not present when the STF team arrived at his house. After waiting for a considerable period, the team conducted the search and questioned other members of the family, the officer said.
The searches are part of an expanded investigation launched after the recovery of huge quantities of cash and gold, estimated to be worth around Rs 50 crore, from the residence of Minar Mondal, a brother-in-law of Tulu Mondal.
Investigators suspect that Mondal amassed substantial assets by evading government taxes linked to his stone business, and they are trying to trace properties and valuables allegedly concealed through relatives and close associates.
Searches have also been conducted at Mondal's residence in Siuri's Subhaspally.
Birbhum Superintendent of Police Bidit Raj Bundesh said assets worth around Rs 220 crore linked to Tulu Mondal had been frozen so far.
"We have frozen assets worth approximately Rs 220 crore in connection with the investigation. This includes the cash and gold recovered from Minar Mondal's residence. The investigation is continuing, and efforts are on to trace Tulu Mondal," Bundesh said.
Police have arrested four people in connection with the case so far.
