Tulu Mondal: Mamata's Stone Mafia Scam
Aug 01, 2026 - By Ashutosh Roy Current AffairsGovernance & AdminPoliticsRegional UpdatesWest Bengal Politics
Who Is Tulu Mondal and Why Is Birbhum Shaking?
In West Bengal, money doesn’t grow on trees, it sprouts straight out of illegal stone quarries and hidden bedroom lockers. If you’ve ever wondered how fast a local youth can transform into a multi-crore tycoon, you don’t need to look any further than Tulu Mondal.
The quiet district of Birbhum recently witnessed a staggering discovery. Local police raided a house belonging to Minar Mondal, a former government bus driver and brother-in-law of Tulu Mondal.
What was sitting inside? A jaw-dropping stash of over Rs. 28.5 crore in cold hard cash alongside 15 kg of gold bars valued at around Rs. 21.5 crore.
The pile of paper bills was so massive that five currency counting machines literally overheated and burned out during the operation, as reported by The Statesman.
At Knowledge Mart, we always enjoy analyzing financial anomalies. But this isn’t some inspiring rags-to-riches story. Tulu Mondal (who also goes by the alias Mohammad Najibuddin) has overnight become the face of Bengal’s deep syndicate crisis.
How did he grow this powerful? The reason is plain for everyone to see: his empire expanded hand-in-hand with the regime of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, following the exact same playbook seen in every major scam across the state.
Under Mamata’s Mafia Legacy, West Bengal developed its own unique economic model, one where public natural resources magically turn into private mountains of cash. The Birbhum Stone Mafia didn’t operate in secret underground tunnels. It ran out in the open, right under the nose of the state administration.
Have a look at the luxurious extravagant house of Tulu Mondal, called Dalila Bhavan by TV9 Coverage.
You may get amazed and simultaneously blame your luck factor just by looking at the property of Tulu Mondal. Let me give you the encroached property of Tulu Mondal that the CM has furnished in the assembly on July 31, 2026
- Hard Cash: 28 crores 50 lacs 47 thousand.
- Gold: Approximate value is 50 crores.
- Bank Account: 93 crores.
Take a break. Relax! Perhaps you can never dream of such property in your lifetime!
Birbhum Scams & Mafia Names: Timeline, Allegations & Status
Birbhum has consistently emerged as a central hotspot in high-profile investigations involving cross-border smuggling, illegal mining, and political-mafia networks. Here is how the cases stack up:
| Scam / Nexus | Timeline | Key Names | Allegations | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle Smuggling Scam | 2015 – 2022 | Anubrata Mondal, Enamul Haque, Sehegal Hossain | Alleged cross-border smuggling with organized network | Arrests, ED/CBI probe ongoing |
| Money Trail (Cattle Network) | 2015 – 2022 | Anubrata Mondal, Sehegal Hossain | Alleged illegal cash flow & laundering via aides | Assets attached, chargesheets filed |
| Coal Smuggling Nexus | 2018 – 2022 | Multiple accused (alleged local links) | Illegal coal extraction & transport racket | Investigation ongoing |
| Sand / Stone Mafia | 2016 – Present | Tulu Mondal, local networks | Illegal mining, extortion, territorial control | Raids continue, issue persists |
| Syndicate / Local Control | 2014 – Present | Local political networks | Alleged cut-money, contract domination | Under scrutiny |
Insight: Multiple investigative trails point to a massive overlap between illicit smuggling channels, shadow financial routes, and regional political bosses.
How Did a Laborer Become the Kingpin of the Birbhum Stone Mafia?
Where else can a daily-wage worker jump straight to syndicate emperor in a matter of years? That is precisely what went down in the red soil of Birbhum.
Before ruling the local stone trade, Tulu Mondal was doing basic manual labor. But in record time, he seized control over illegal quarrying, black-market distribution, and informal toll collections. How does someone acquire that level of operational influence overnight?
You have to look at his apparent blueprint: Anubrata Mondal.
- The Fish Seller Blueprint: Anubrata Mondal famously started out selling fish in Bolpur before riding the TMC banner to become the absolute ruler of the entire district.
- The Worker’s Rise: Following almost the exact same script, Tulu Mondal climbed from basic labor to running the lucrative Stone Mining Scam.
- The Golden Touch: Both cases show how, under Mamata Corruption, political proximity proved far more valuable than any business degree.
We call this the “Birbhum Miracle“. You start by selling fish or driving a bus, and end up keeping 15 kg of gold bars in your relative’s bedroom.
Shankhadeep Das, the Editor in chief of Wall, has made Mamata Banerjee directly liable for such a poor administration. Watch his views here.
Why Did the Administration Play Blind for Over a Decade?
How do thousands of heavy trucks haul illegal stone every single day without local cops noticing? Were authorities genuinely blind, or were they holding open the toll gates for a cut?
Was the Police Department Sleeping or Guiding the Trucks?
Tulu Mondal’s sudden rise is clear evidence of systemic administrative blind spots. Under the previous administration, government offices consistently looked the other way. Had local law enforcement done its job from day one, these figures wouldn’t have dominated national headlines:
- Anubrata Mondal: The local strongman who ran Birbhum with an iron grip, detailed extensively in The New Indian Express report.
- Tulu Mondal: The syndicate operator who ran stone extraction like a personal mint.
- Enamul Haque: The key figure behind a massive international cattle smuggling ring.
- Sehagal Hossain: A state police constable assigned as a bodyguard who somehow accumulated unexplainable wealth.
An entire district cannot operate like a private racket without official backing. The illegal quarrying used heavy earthmovers, dynamite charges, and unending lines of overloaded trucks. Alas! district officials acted as if nothing was happening, a design feature of Mamata’s Mafia Legacy.
Major Scams in Bengal: Timeline, Action & Status
| Scam Name | Timeline | Govt Action | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Recruitment Scam | 2014 – 2022 | Minister removed after pressure | CBI/ED probe, multiple arrests |
| Coal Smuggling Scam | 2018 – 2022 | Limited state intervention | Central probe ongoing |
| Cattle Smuggling Scam | 2015 – 2021 | No early crackdown | Key accused arrested |
| SSC Recruitment Scam | 2016 – 2022 | Panel cancelled by court | SC monitoring, jobs cancelled |
| Municipal Job Scam | 2017 – 2023 | Internal inquiries | ED probe underway |
| Ration Scam | 2020 – 2024 | Minister arrested | Investigation ongoing |
| Sand/Stone Mafia Nexus | 2016 – Present | Periodic raids | Issue persists locally |
Insight: Action came only after court orders or central agency interventions forced the state’s hand.
What an irony! While Delhi Police is alleged for hyper-activity for the usage of Pallet Guns during NEET Protests, the West Bengal police had been continuously suffering from inactivity even in major scams during Mamata Banerjee Regime. It’s a shame for the compliant IAS & IPS officers also.
Did Tulu Mondal Escape to Dubai Right After Election Night?
When political winds shift, syndicate bosses don’t hang around.
Why Fly to Dubai on May 5th?
On May 4th, election results signaled a political shift in West Bengal. By May 5th, Tulu Mondal had already boarded an international flight to Dubai with his family.
Was it a sudden holiday trip, or did he realize the incoming government would dismantle illegal operations and enforce the law?
Mondal knew his protective cover had evaporated. Under the previous setup, he operated with total political immunity, an immunity that vanished overnight.
This sudden flight brings up another awkward pattern:
West Bengal Mafia Who Fled Abroad
A number of key figures named in coal, cattle, and sand rackets across West Bengal have fled the country or gone missing during probes. Here is a look at the key names:
| Name | Mafia / Scam Link | Timeline | Status Abroad | Key Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE GREAT ESCAPE COMPARISON | ||||
| Binoy (Vinay) Mishra | Coal & Cattle Smuggling | 2018 – 2022 | Reportedly abroad (Vanuatu) | Allegedly fled during probe; linked to international routes |
| Tulu Mondal | Sand / Stone Mafia | 2016 – Present | Reportedly absconding / evasive | Linked to illegal mining & large cash seizures |
| Enamul Haque | Cattle Smuggling Network | 2015 – 2022 | Arrested (not fled long-term) | Considered a key operator in cross-border racket |
| Anup Majee (Lala) | Coal Smuggling Mafia | 2018 – 2022 | Believed to have fled abroad | Named in multiple probe reports; evaded agencies |
| Other Associates | Coal / Cattle Networks | 2015 – Present | Some absconding | Middlemen and aides reported missing during probes |
Key Insight: Several prime accused managed to exit the country during active investigations, pointing to severe law enforcement loopholes.
Take Binoy Mishra, who left India and secured citizenship in the island nation of Vanuatu. Can high-level syndicate bosses pull off smooth exits without political help? At Knowledge Mart, we seriously doubt it. Someone usually holds the door open at the airport.
Can Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee Escape Accountability?
When raids turn up mountains of cash, politicians usually pull out their favorite defense: complete ignorance.
Who Kept the Cuts?
The raid on Tulu Mondal’s relative recovered Rs. 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold, as covered by the Times of India. Is it realistically possible to hoard wealth on this scale without top-level political backing?
These are the obvious questions the public is asking:
- Top Leadership Responsibility: Can Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee pass the blame for the Stone Mining Scam when they held centralized control over both state and party?
- The Cut Money Route: Did illicit proceeds stay with regional operators, or did monthly “cut money” move up to leadership in Kolkata?
- Investigative Focus: Local players like Mondal may have left for Dubai, but senior party leaders are still in Bengal. Will central agencies follow the cash trail all the way up?
- Bureaucratic Accountability: What about senior IAS and IPS officers who served in Birbhum, signed permits, and watched overloaded stone trucks pass by? Will they face scrutiny?
You can’t oversee a multi-thousand-crore illegal trade for years and claim you never noticed a single truck.
Is Bengal’s Revenue Skyrocketing Under New Management?
Nothing exposes a syndicate operation faster than a sudden spike in official state revenues.
The Real Story Behind Mining Revenue
The BJP Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari pointed out an eye-opening metric: during the very first month of the new government, stone mining revenue jumped dramatically, rising from an average Rs. 60 crore annually to Rs. 82 – 83 crore in a single month.
How does legal mining revenue shoot up overnight without opening a single new quarry?
The quarries were always producing stone. Under Mamata Corruption, profits moved directly into private lockers. Under strict administration, that same money lands in the public treasury.
| Feature / Metric | Under Mamata’s Regime | Under New Governance |
|---|---|---|
| Stone Mining Revenue | Abysmal (Drained by Syndicates) | Drastically Increased |
| Where Cash Was Stashed | In hidden beds & bus drivers’ houses | In State Treasury |
| Primary Beneficiaries | Tulu Mondal & TMC leaders | Citizens of West Bengal |
| Administrative Stance | Blind eyes & open flight paths | Active raids & accountability |
The big test now: Will Suvendu Adhikari and the new administration pursue everyone involved in the stone scam, or will momentum slow down over time?
Is Action Taken Based on “Bhalo Trinamool” versus “Kalo Trinamool”?
Justice in West Bengal can take some strange political turns.
Why Do Scams Fade After Political Shifts?
Citizens have watched endless raids, political theater, and fiery speeches. Still actual legal outcomes often seem linked to political convenience.
Look at these examples:
- Unaddressed Allegations: The Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari once publicly claimed leader Javed Khan owned vast illegal properties in Kolkata. The follow-up? Zero legal action.
- The Taratala Disaster: After the Taratala massacre, the CM openly pointed toward signatures linked to Firhad Hakim. The result? Total silence.
- The Anubrata Factor: What happens to Anubrata Mondal now? Will he face full legal consequences for district-wide extortion allegations and illegal financial scams?
Or will these leaders dodge accountability simply by placing distance between themselves and the former leadership? We see figures floating terms like “Ritabrata Trinamool” or claiming they severed old ties.
Kalyan Banerjee, the senior TMC politician and lawyer has already pointed at Anubrata Mondal behind exponential growth of Tulu Mondal. Watch this video in TV9.
It raises an obvious question: Is law enforcement operating on a fake distinction between “Bhalo Trinamool” (Good Trinamool) and “Kalo Trinamool” (Black Trinamool)?
Suvendu Adhikari has to ensure that the anti-goonda law doesn’t remain as a showpiece only.
At Knowledge Mart, our view is simple: illegal activity is illegal activity regardless of political affiliation. Changing a party badge doesn’t wipe away years of syndicate involvement in Birbhum.
Knowledge Mart Final Thoughts
Looking back at West Bengal’s political landscape, the evidence points to a breakdown in governance under the former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
For over a decade, local operators like Tulu Mondal were able to divert state resources, build private fortunes, and bypass basic regulations. Systemic corruption turned regulators and law enforcement into bystanders while syndicates operated freely in Birbhum.
Even Journalist, Sumon Chattopadhyay has demanded justice against such a racket irrespective of colour and groups. One may watch his views here.
A change in leadership raises expectations. The public voted for a complete dismantling of syndicate structures, not just a shuffle of political figures.
The current administration needs to move forward without political hand-waving or selective distinctions. That means pursuing fugitives like Tulu Mondal, seizing illegal assets, and holding complicit officials accountable under the law.
10 Key Takeaways:
- Unprecedented Seizures: Police recovered Rs. 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kg of gold bars from a relative tied to Tulu Mondal.
- Hardware Overload: The cash stash was so massive it caused five currency counting machines to fail during the raid.
- Rapid Ascent: Tulu Mondal went from a daily-wage worker to Birbhum’s stone mafia operator in a very short timeframe.
- Following the Playbook: Mondal’s trajectory mirrored Anubrata Mondal’s rise from a local fish seller to district strongman.
- Systemic Oversight: Overloaded stone trucks operated daily under administrative passivity and informal toll arrangements.
- Post-Election Departure: Mondal flew to Dubai with his family immediately after West Bengal Assembly election 2026 results were declared.
- Pattern of Departure: High-profile syndicate figures fleeing abroad during investigations remains a persistent enforcement challenge.
- Unanswered Questions: Questions remain over how far up the political hierarchy illegal cut money flowed.
- Revenue Spikes: Official mining receipts surged in the first month under new oversight, showing how much state revenue was being diverted.
- Uniform Accountability: Rebuilding public trust requires applying the law consistently, regardless of political realignment.