3 detained over unaccounted money

Kolkata: Large amount of unaccounted money has been seized from Durgapur and Salt Lake on Thursday. The first incident took place at Durgapur railway station where one person was detained and Rs 70 lakh was seized from his possession. In the second case, a man was detained in Salt Lake and Rs 40 lakh was seized from him.

According to sources, on Thursday, around 11 am, a person, who was later identified as Suresh Prasad Barman, was seen loitering at the Durgapur railway station by Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel. The GRP personnel kept a close watch on Barman as they felt his activities were suspicious. Later, they intercepted him and inquired what he was doing at the station. Barman said he was about to board a train to Kolkata. GRP personnel questioned what he was carrying inside his luggage bag. Barman said there were garments in the bag but the police personnel were not satisfied. Barman was taken to the police station at Durgapur railway station and there his luggage bag was opened and huge amount of money was discovered. Asansol-Durgapur Police was informed about the incident. After counting it was found that Barman was carrying Rs 70 lakh. During the interrogation, he said he had come from Varanasi and got down at Durgapur to catch a corresponding train to Kolkata. It is suspected that the money was intended to be used in the last phase of the Lok Sabha Elections which is scheduled on May 19. Barman was immediately detained. The information of money seizure has been conveyed to the Income Tax department and the Election Commission as per the procedure.

In another incident, on Thursday afternoon, two persons identified as Surajit Singh of FE block and Ratan Hagen of AA block of Salt Lake were intercepted during naka checking in front of FE block community hall in Salt Lake. According to sources, as per the procedure of Election Commission, police personnel from Bidhannagar South police station were on naka checking duty. They spotted two persons, on a bike, were moving towards the checking point and one of them was carrying a backpack. After documents of the bike were checked, the duo was questioned what they were carrying inside the bag. As they started fumbling while answering the cops, the officers asked them to open the bag. The officers found a huge amount of money inside the bag.

The duo was brought to the police station and after counting police officers came to know that the duo were carrying Rs 40 lakh.

When asked about the source of the money, they couldn't provide satisfactory answers.

The duo claimed that they were businessman and the money was meant to be used for business. But they were not able to produce any valid documents. Later, they were detained and money we seized. The information about the seizure of the money was conveyed to the Income Tax department and Election Commission.