A former home guard of Calcutta Police, posing as a Customs officer, was arrested on Saturday evening for allegedly trying to snatch Rs 1.5 lakh from an agent of a foreign currency exchange firm at Gede station.

Himadri Mondal, 32, a resident of Tollygunge, was nabbed by the RPF and handed over to the Ranaghat GRP authorities.

GRP sources in Ranaghat said the accused tried to snatch a bag containing the money from currency exchange agent Karna Nath while on a Gede-bound local train on Saturday evening. Nath, in a desperate bid to protect the cash, jumped out of the moving train after a “scuffle with Mondal and his aides”.

As the train was nearing Gede, Nath’s jump drew the attention of the RPF who then nabbed Mondal.

Nath later said Mondal introduced himself as a Customs officer but produced a Calcutta police ID.

A GRP officer at Ranaghat said they were trying to find Mondal’s aides.

Mondal was posted as a home guard with Calcutta traffic police, but was “discontinued” from service because of indefinite absence. On way to court, he claimed innocence in this case.