A major financial irregularity probe has been launched in West Bengal after police recovered approximately ₹1.8 crore in cash from a locked room inside an English-medium school in Kanchrapara, North 24 Parganas. The recovery followed an overnight raid that began on Wednesday and resulted in the arrest of two school employees.
The cash was seized from Harnett English Medium School in Foreman Colony during a search operation conducted by investigators from Bijpur Police Station. Along with the money, police also confiscated documents and computer equipment believed to be relevant to the case.
According to officials, the investigation was initiated following a complaint filed by acting principal Bikash Chandra Pal, who alleged embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, and cheating by individuals associated with the school’s administration and accounts department.
Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and subsequently arrested accountant Abhik Kumar Nag and junior accountant Sayan Pal after investigators reportedly found inconsistencies in their statements.
The FIR also names Kamal Adhikary, former chairman of the Trinamool Congress-run Kanchrapara Municipality and president of the school’s management committee, along with committee member Goutam Ghosh Dastidar. Both individuals are currently absconding, according to police.
Authorities are also investigating allegations that a room inside the school was constructed under the pretext of serving as a sick room and that objectionable materials were discovered during the search. However, police have not yet released details regarding those claims.
Acting principal Bikash Chandra Pal distanced himself from the controversy, stating that the recovered cash represented admission fees collected since April and that responsibility for depositing the funds in the bank rested with the accounts department.
Investigators are now examining the source of the money, financial records, and alleged irregularities in student admissions. The probe is also looking into whether the recovered cash was linked to any unauthorised transactions or misuse of school funds.
The case reportedly came to light after information regarding alleged irregularities at educational institutions in the Bijpur area was passed on to authorities. Police have stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that further arrests cannot be ruled out.
