Ex-Bodyguard Arrested in Tulu Mondal Case, ₹13 Lakh Seized Amid Wider Probe

In a significant development for West Bengal's ongoing corruption crackdown, Saigal Hossain, former bodyguard to Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal, was arrested Sunday morning from his flat in Birbhum's Bolpur after a marathon interrogation. Police recovered approximately ₹13 lakh in cash, 800 grams of gold, and over 150 land deeds, directly linking him to the escalating 'Tulu Mondal case' involving alleged document forgery and tax evasion in the stone quarry business. This arrest is a crucial step in an intensified probe targeting absconding stone trader Tulu Mondal, who is suspected of orchestrating a vast network of illicit assets, now estimated to exceed ₹150 crore. The investigation gained serious momentum after authorities, just weeks ago on July 29, seized a staggering ₹50 crore in cash and gold from Tulu Mondal's relative, Minar Mondal. The widening net has also put Anubrata Mondal, currently out on bail in a separate cattle smuggling case, under renewed scrutiny due to Hossain's close historical ties and alleged role in facilitating corruption. Hossain has been remanded to seven days in police custody by a Siuri court, as investigators work to unravel the full extent of the network and trace Tulu Mondal, who remains untraceable and is believed to have fled the country, possibly to Turkey. While Tulu Mondal has sought legal recourse from the Calcutta High Court to quash the FIR and secure anticipatory bail, his immediate efforts have been unsuccessful. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has already signaled its intent to examine the money laundering aspects, hinting at a potential escalation to central agency involvement in this high-profile financial scandal.