Kolkata: Over one crore rupees was seized from Burrabazar and Posta area on Thursday night, after multiple teams from the Detective Department (DD) of Kolkata Police launched a special raid. Four persons have been arrested in this connection till now.
According to sources, since the last few days sleuths were getting tipped-off regarding unaccounted money being smuggled into the city for use during elections. On Wednesday, sleuths managed to get hold of information regarding 12 suspected locations where the unaccounted money was kept.
Immediately, senior Kolkata Police officials formed five teams consisting of personnel from DD and commenced raids in Burrabazar, Posta, Bowbazar and Jorabagar areas. Till 9 pm, raids in four places under Burrabazar and Posta police station's jurisdiction were completed. From there, sleuths recovered Rs One crore six thousand and nabbed four persons.
According to sources, sleuths are almost sure that the money was sent to the city for use during the last two phases of Lok Sabha elections 2019. Sleuths also came to know that a hawala racket was being operated to bring the money into the city. The four arrested are also connected with the hawala business.
"Raids are being conducted on the basis of specific information. In eight more places, raids are still continuing. It is suspected that hawala operators are behind bringing the money to the city for the purpose of use during elections. We are trying to know who are sending this money and to whom," said Praveen Kumar Tripathi, Joint Commissioner (Crime) of Kolkata Police.
It may be recalled that during the last few months, huge amounts of unaccounted money have been seized across the city at multiple police stations of Kolkata Police.