Heaps of cash & gold, 242 vehicles & more: WB CM Suvendu lists Tulu Mondal’s assets

The latest exposé from West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari’s government has shed light on a staggering Rs 150 crore worth of assets amassed by fugitive stone mining baron Tulu Mondal. The figure, comprising cash, gold, and properties including 242 vehicles and two petrol pumps, is a small part of a scandal that has been brewing for years.

At its core, this story is not about the scale of corruption or the brazenness with which it was perpetrated. It’s about institutional rot and politicians who enabled it. CM Adhikari’s pointed remarks at a recent press conference have brought the spotlight on Mamata Banerjee, the former Chief Minister accused of providing tacit support to Tulu Mondal.

The scale of corruption is staggering. Speaking at Nabanna, Adhikari revealed that illegal stone mining and smuggling from Birbhum alone had led to a revenue loss of nearly Rs 15,000 crore over the past 15 years. Officials allegedly told not to touch Mondal – this suggests systemic corruption that thrives when those at the top turn a blind eye.

The annual revenue from Birbhum’s stone mining sector stood at Rs 60-80 crore before Banerjee’s tenure but has now shot up to Rs 100 crore a month under the new government. This highlights the extent of corruption that occurred during her time in office.

Authorities have recovered Rs 50 crore in cash and gold from Mondal’s premises, and frozen bank accounts containing Rs 93 crore allegedly linked to him. The numbers are not surprising – it’s how they were used to enrich individuals like Tulu Mondal that’s damning.

Adhikari stated that officials were forced to keep their eyes closed, and the ultimate responsibility lies with the former CM. This is a scathing indictment of corruption that seeps into governance when those in power prioritize personal interests over public good.

The ongoing investigation by the CID, STF, and central agencies will likely shed more light on whether proceeds from alleged illegal mining operations were laundered abroad. But it’s clear that this scandal has exposed a system riddled with corruption, where politicians are willing to do whatever it takes to line their pockets.

As Bengal’s revenue rises by 12% in just 10 weeks, and the overall revenue is expected to increase by at least 20% by the end of the current financial year, one can’t help but wonder what this means for the state’s governance structure. Will this be a turning point where those who enabled corruption are held accountable? Or will it simply be another chapter in the long history of institutional rot and politician-driven enrichment?

The CM’s words carry weight because they come at a time when Bengal is beginning to see some semblance of accountability. The recent public auction of illegally mined sand allegedly abandoned by TMC netas in East Burdwan, which earned the state over Rs 13.5 crore, suggests that there may be hope for change.

Until those who enabled this corruption are held accountable and institutions are strengthened to prevent such rot from setting in again, Bengal will continue to be plagued by a system where politicians prioritize their interests over public good.