Kolkata, February 25 – Three young men, possessing approximately $450,000 (over Rs 4 crore), were arrested in Kolkata's Park Street area, police said on Wednesday.
The men were arrested from the Park Street police station area on Tuesday night, police said, adding that an investigation has been launched. The arrested individuals are scheduled to appear before a court.
According to police sources, the names of the arrested individuals are Sayan Das, Mohammad Asad, and Feroz Khan. All three are said to be residents of Mumbai.
Officers at the Park Street police station observed the three men behaving suspiciously on Tuesday night. Upon becoming suspicious, the police officers questioned them. Subsequently, their bags were searched, and the US dollars, stacked in layers, were recovered.
During questioning, the arrested trio claimed that they worked at a currency exchange office and were traveling to Mumbai with the money. In response, the police officers asked them to provide relevant documents. However, the young men were unable to produce the necessary documentation, and the Park Street police station arrested them on charges of illegal money laundering.
"The US dollars have been seized. The arrested individuals will be brought before a court. An investigation is underway to determine if they are involved in a larger money laundering operation," a senior Kolkata Police official said.
Ahead of the state Assembly elections, the police have increased surveillance in Kolkata and across the state to recover illegally supplied weapons and money. The recent arrest is a result of continuous surveillance of city roads and major intersections.