Why did Ganapati Chakraborty withdraw Tk1.4 million before murder?

The withdrawal of Tk1.459 million from Treasury by Ganapati Chakraborty, who was later killed along with three members of his family in Rangpur, has emerged as a new point of interest in the investigation.

He reportedly withdrew the substantial amount about three weeks before the murders. However, there is still no specific information about why he withdrew the money or where he subsequently spent or kept it.

According to information available, on 29 July, Ganapati Chakraborty withdrew a cheque worth Tk1.459 million from the Treasury against his provident fund.

Police allege that Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi and son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam were killed on 21 August. Their bodies were recovered from their home in the Kamalkachna Machuapara (Daspara) area at around 11pm the following day.

The Tk1.459 million withdrawn from Ganapati's account has now become another issue in the investigation. Where the money went after it was withdrawn is also emerging as an important question.

Asked about the matter, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Detective Division) Sanatan Chakraborty said police had yet to determine whether Ganapati had spent the money, and if so, where, or whether the money was still in his possession.

Efforts are underway to establish what happened to the money, he said.

He further said police may seek remand to question arrested suspects Siddhartha Chandra Das and Mugdha Das about the money, along with several other issues.

Ganapati's relative Biswajit Ray said that he had withdrawn the money for construction work on the ground floor of his house and for buying ornaments for his daughter. Relatives said they knew nothing beyond that.

This raises the question of what happened to the Tk1.459 million during the nearly three weeks between its withdrawal on 29 July and the murders on 21 August. Was the money kept at home, or had it already been spent on something? The matter remains unclear.

It is also yet to be established whether the money had any connection with the killings or whether it was simply withdrawn by Ganapati for his personal or household needs.

Police have so far disclosed that Tk15,000 cash and some gold ornaments were recovered from the house after the murders. However, with the withdrawal of Tk1.459 million now becoming part of the investigation, tracing the money's whereabouts could prove significant.

The key question remains: Why did Ganapati Chakraborty withdraw Tk1.459 million from his provident fund just 23 days before the murders?