Birbhum, May 30 -- A major police operation targeting illegal sand mining in West Bengal's Birbhum district has led to the recovery of Rs 49.75 lakh cash and 502 gm of gold from the premises of an alleged sand trader and local Trinamool Congress leader, who is now absconding.
According to police sources, Laban Sheikh and his partner Shamim Sheikh, both local TMC leaders, had been operating an illegal sand quarry for a long time in the Mohammad Bazar area in Birbhum district.
Acting on a specific tip-off and information, STF of Birbhum Police raided his office attached to his house and seized about Rs 49.75 lakh in cash, mostly in Rs 500 denomination notes, along with around 502 grams of gold jewellery suspected to be unaccounted for.
Sha...