The West Bengal Police have seized nearly Rs 1.77 crore in cash from a locked room at a private school in Kanchrapara, located in the North 24 Parganas district. The institution's accountant has been detained for questioning in connection with the recovery.
Overnight Search Operation
The cash was recovered during an overnight search operation conducted based on specific intelligence inputs, according to police officials. Eight packets containing the money were found in the locked room. Three counting machines were brought to the school, and the counting process continued until early Thursday morning.
A senior police officer stated, "The cash has been seized, and an investigation is underway to ascertain its source. We are examining documents and questioning those connected with the institution."
Accountant Detained
Police have detained the school's accountant, identified as Abhik Kumar Nag, and are interrogating him regarding the source of the money and why such a large sum was kept on the school premises. Officials noted that Nag has so far failed to provide a satisfactory explanation about the cash's origin or the reasons for not depositing it in a bank.
A written complaint has been filed against four individuals: Kamal Adhikari, Gautam Ghoshdastidar, Abhik Kumar Nag, and Sayan Nag. The complaint includes allegations of financial irregularities and cheating. Kamal Adhikari is the chairman of Kanchrapara Municipality and the brother of former Bijpur MLA Subodh Adhikari.
Principal's Statement
Meanwhile, the school principal, Bikash Chandra Pal, claimed that the money belonged to the institution and had been collected through admission-related fees. "The amount comprises admission fees collected by the school. The accountant kept the money on the premises instead of depositing it in the bank," Pal told reporters. When asked why such a large amount had not been deposited, the principal said he was unaware of the reasons and claimed the matter occurred without his knowledge.
Investigation Ongoing
Police are now verifying the school's records and financial documents to determine whether the seized cash matches officially recorded transactions and to establish if any financial wrongdoing was involved. The investigation is ongoing.
