On Friday, railway police and the Railway Protection Force (RPF) intercepted a youth carrying Rs 40 lakh in cash, sparking questions about its source and intended use.

The man, identified as Prabhat Samuel, was travelling from Kesinga to Raipur when officials, acting on prior intelligence, stopped him and found the money stashed in a bag. In his statement, Samuel claimed the cash was handed over by Kesinga-based businessman Ajay Soni and was meant to cover wedding expenses in Raipur.

Authorities, however, flagged inconsistencies in the explanation, including the absence of details about the wedding itself. The Income Tax Department has now been tasked with verifying whether the funds are legitimate or unaccounted.

The timing of the seizure has added to the scrutiny. With elections underway in West Bengal and Samuel hailing from the state. Now officials are probing whether the cash movement has any political links. Police confirmed that further questioning and verification are in progress, with the case likely to attract close monitoring in the days ahead.