Tripura Police recovered Rs 40 lakh in cash from a Bolero vehicle during a naka checking operation at Durga Chowmuhani in Kamalpur subdivision on Saturday night. Five persons travelling in the vehicle were detained for questioning in connection with the seizure.
According to police sources, the checking was conducted at around 8 pm under the joint supervision of Kamalpur Traffic In-charge Pankaj Debnath and Officer-in-Charge of Kamalpur Police Station Suman Acharya.
During the operation, police intercepted a private Bolero bearing registration number TR 01 CD 0692, which was reportedly travelling from Dharmanagar towards Agartala. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of ₹40 lakh in cash.
The detained persons were identified as Muktar Hossain, son of Chand Mia, of Teliamura; Jasim Mia, son of Habil Mia, of Melaghar; Kabir Mia, son of Jalil Mia, of Sachindralal area in Agartala; Liton Mia, son of Nur Mohammad Mia, of Khowai; and Rabindra Das, son of Gour Das, of Teliamura. Their ages range between 18 and 33 years, police said.
During preliminary questioning, the persons reportedly told police that the cash was linked to transactions involving the betel nut business. However, investigators allegedly found discrepancies in their statements concerning the source and intended use of the money.
The recovered cash was counted with the help of a currency-counting machine in the presence of Kamalpur subdivision DCM Aditi Das, SDPO Saurav Das, police officer Kapil Pal and other police officials and sub-inspectors.
Police have launched an investigation to establish the source of the cash, identify the persons or businesses connected with the transaction and determine whether the seizure has any links to a wider financial network.
Police sources said the seized cash and the five detained persons are expected to be produced before a court on Sunday. Further details are likely to emerge as the investigation progresses.
