Several lakh worth rupee notes infested by termites was recovered from two suitcases kept inside a college union room at Surendranath College in central Kolkata, prompting a police investigation.
The cash was discovered on Tuesday during a cleanliness drive carried out on the college campus ahead of the monsoon season. Civic authorities had recently advised educational institutions to clean their premises before the rains.
According to police, workers cleaning the college entered the union room and found two old suitcases inside an almirah. The suitcases were opened in the presence of college authorities and representatives from both the day and evening sections of the college.
"When the suitcases were opened in the presence of college authorities, bundles of currency notes damaged by termites were found inside. The notes appeared to be old and in a severely deteriorated condition," a police officer said.
The recovered cash consisted mainly of Rs 100 and Rs 500 notes. Police said most of the currency was heavily damaged and covered in dirt due to termite infestation.
After receiving information about the discovery, a team from Muchipara Police Station reached the college and seized the suitcases along with some documents found at the spot.
"At this stage, we are trying to ascertain the exact amount of money recovered and how long the suitcases had been lying there. We are also examining who had access to the room and how the cash came to be stored there," the officer said.
Police said they are preparing a detailed inventory of the recovered notes.
"Most of the notes are damaged and soiled. A detailed inventory is being prepared, and further steps will be taken after verification," the officer added.
Investigators are now trying to determine the source of the money and identify who kept the cash inside the college union room. So far, police have not established how long the suitcases had been stored there.
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