STF Constable Arrested for Masterminding ₹2.66 Crore Heist in Kolkata

Forex company employee, STF constable, and multiple others arrested as Kolkata Police uncover an insider-led robbery.

On May 5, 2025, a robbery of ₹2.66 crore took place in Kolkata. Two employees of Avinandan Forex Pvt. Ltd. were transporting the cash via taxi from their office on S.N. Banerjee Road to deposit the cash into a state-run bank in the Park Circus area of the city. At around 11:45 AM, two unknown persons boarded the taxi near Phillips Crossing. They forced the driver to divert to a secluded alley in the Karaya area, and stole the investment cash stored in the vehicle’s boot.

Investigation and Arrests:

The detective department of Kolkata Police started an investigation and arrested several persons-

Police arrested Mintu Sarkar, a constable of the Special Task Force (STF) branch of Kolkata Police. After sustained interrogation, identifying him as the alleged mastermind behind the robbery. Sarkar, who lives in Joypur, South Dinajpur district, was under suspicion of being an active contributor to the robbery. Alternatively, he might have provided inside information about its movement.

Riju Hazra- An employee of the forex company, also suspected of providing information pertaining to cash movement.

Sanjib Das alias Pacha, Mohammad Sarfaraz alias Sonu, Shah Rukh Sheikh, Alamgir Khan, and Amiruddin alias Guzzar- Arrested in the case regarding the robbery. 

Sahanaj Sheikh alias Raju, Nazmul Hussain, and Sheikh Rahamat- Alleged accused arrested. Investigators identified Raju as the source who provided information to Sarkar.

Recovery of Stolen Funds:

Authorities have recovered about ₹71.19 lakh of the total stolen amount from different locations-

₹31.5 lakh from Raju’s home located in Mandirbazar, South 24-Parganas.

₹13 lakh from Mohammad Sarfaraz’s home.

₹6 lakh from Riju Hazra’s residence.

₹3 lakh from the taxi driver’s residence.

₹26 lakh from a hideout in Baruipur.

Continuing Investigation:

The role of a police officer in perpetrating such a major robbery raises an issue of internal security and confidence in police organizations. An internal investigation is underway in the STF to determine how Sarkar was able to obtain sensitive information such as which tower the employees transporting the cash were attached to. The Kolkata Police are continuing their investigation to determine the extent of the conspiracy and catch any co-accomplices involved in the robbery.