One of Kolkata’s oldest educational institutions, Surendranath College, has landed in controversy after cash worth nearly ₹1 crore, liquor bottles, condom packets, and a revolver were allegedly discovered inside the college campus.
The discoveries were made after the college’s students’ union room was opened for the first time in nearly a year. The room had been locked in 2025 following a court order that directed the closure of union rooms in colleges where student elections had not been held since 2019.
According to reports, college authorities began a cleaning drive after the state government ordered an audit of students’ union funds. During the process, workers found two large boxes filled with cash inside an old wooden cupboard. Most of the money consisted of ₹100 and ₹500 notes, with a portion reportedly damaged by termites.
The discovery triggered a wider search of the campus.
During the inspection, authorities also found two semi-furnished bedrooms equipped with air conditioners, beds, attached bathrooms, and other facilities. College officials alleged that the rooms were used by local political leaders, though the allegations have been denied.
The controversy deepened further when liquor bottles were reportedly recovered from the rooftop, while packets of condoms were found in the students’ common room. A revolver wrapped in a black packet was also allegedly found inside the union room. Police later seized the weapon and began an investigation.
The incident has sparked a political storm in West Bengal.
BJP leaders have demanded a detailed investigation into the source of the cash and alleged that it could be linked to irregularities in college admissions. They have also called for a probe into the functioning of students’ unions and the collection of funds on college campuses.
College staff have reportedly alleged that the union room operated like a private office and that some students and employees faced pressure if they did not follow instructions from those controlling it.
The incident has once again brought attention to long-standing allegations of corruption, admission rackets, and misuse of student union facilities in educational institutions across the state.
