The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested a Gaibandha man in a money laundering case after tracing nearly Tk10 crore in alleged suspicious transactions through his bank and mobile financial service accounts.
Haridas Chandra Taranidas was arrested from a temple in Palashbari on Sunday night with assistance from Gaibandha district police. He was later taken to Dhaka.
Gaibandha Superintendent of Police (SP) Md Jasim Uddin confirmed the arrest on Monday. CID had been investigating the source of funds linked to Haridas since July 2, he said.
"Haridas Chandra was arrested in a money laundering case filed in Dhaka. About Tk10 crore in suspicious transactions were found in his bank accounts. The transactions involved cash as well as hundi," the SP said.
He said CID filed the case at Uttara West Police Station on Sunday under the Money Laundering Prevention Act following its preliminary investigation.
According to a CID press release, investigators found deposits totaling Tk9.35 crore in Haridas' bank and mobile financial service accounts despite his having no known legitimate source of income. Nearly the entire amount was later withdrawn, which the agency described as suspicious.
CID also found that large sums had been transferred to his accounts by individuals from different parts of the country, transactions investigators said were inconsistent with his known profession.
The agency said it uncovered preliminary evidence of domestic and cross-border money laundering and organized crime before filing the case. The investigation into the alleged financial transactions is ongoing.
According to CID, Haridas is a resident of Middle Ramchandrapur village in Palashbari upazila. The agency said he illegally traveled to India in 2010, received education and training there, and later returned to Bangladesh.
CID alleged that he converted to Islam in 2019 and adopted the name Touhid Islam. Investigators claim he later introduced himself as a protocol officer to the then prime minister and promised government jobs and transfers while engaging in hundi transactions and other organized criminal activities.
The agency also said it found information about a case filed against him at Banani Police Station under the Digital Security Act and Sections 167, 168, 406, and 420 of the Penal Code.
Haridas was previously detained along with an associate during a joint Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) operation in Banani on November 8, 2022. Although no case was filed against him at the time, he was detained under Section 54 and later released.
Law enforcement and local sources said Haridas began renovating the Sri Sri Radhagobinda and Kali Temple in Middle Ramchandrapur after August 5, 2024. Built on about two acres of land, the temple complex now features a 28-foot Shiva statue and a 53-foot Krishna statue, while an 81-foot Ram statue is under construction.
The Krishna statue was inaugurated on October 26, 2025, by Indian Assistant High Commissioner Shri Manoj Kumar.
Authorities also found information that Haridas purchased about one bigha of land in Phulbaria of Mymensingh division in 2019 with plans to build a resort.
In recent weeks, a citizens' platform in Gaibandha organized demonstrations and human chains demanding an investigation into Haridas' source of income and his arrest. The latest protest was held at Palashbari Chowrasta on Sunday, hours before CID arrested him.
