502 grams gold, ₹50 lakh cash recovered from TMC-linked sand trader's house

In a significant move targeting local corruption networks, the Birbhum district police conducted a massive raid at the residence and office of Login Sheikh, a prominent sand trader closely associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The operation, which commenced at 6 PM on Friday in Mohammad Bazar, extended late into the night. By the end of the intensive search, authorities successfully recovered 502 grams of gold jewelry and approximately ₹50 lakh in cash, exposing what locals are calling a miniature "gold mine" hidden within the trader's property.

The investigation quickly expanded beyond Login Sheikh as investigators uncovered the involvement of other family members. The names of Sohel Sheikh, Laban Sheikh, and Samim Sheikh have surfaced, all of whom are reportedly deeply entrenched in the local sand mining business and road construction contracting. Amidst the ongoing interrogation regarding the source of the unexplained wealth, the police arrested Samim Sheikh. He is scheduled to be produced before the Siuri court today as law enforcement seeks his custody for further questioning.

This high-stakes raid aligns with the broader anti-corruption mandate spearheaded by the state's new BJP-led administration. Following the recent change in government, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's cabinet has launched a sweeping crackdown to eradicate entrenched syndicates across West Bengal. The political climate in Birbhum has been particularly tense following recent revelations by Siuri MLA Jagannath Chatterjee, who publicly exposed a massive Duplicate Carbon Receipt (DCR) scam within the district's stone industry.