Tripura: ED attaches Rs 1.12 crore in bank balances in fake govt entity fraud case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has provisionally attached bank balances worth approximately Rs 1.12 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with a fraud case involving the impersonation of government officials and the cheating of investors and businessmen through entities deceptively resembling government organisations in Tripura, the central probe agency said on Saturday.

The ED, Agartala Sub‑Zonal Office, attached bank balances valued at approximately Rs 1.12 crore through a Provisional Attachment Order dated July 31, 2026. The assets comprise bank balances held in the names of shell entities controlled by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury, suspended IAS officer of the Tripura cadre Abhishek Chandra, and a private housing company, representing proceeds of crime traced to them.

Abhishek Chandra was serving as Special Secretary, Planning (Statistics) of the Tripura government. ED initiated an investigation under the PMLA, 2002 based on multiple FIRs registered by police in West Bengal and Tripura against Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and his associates for offences of cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and impersonation under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which are scheduled offences under the PMLA, 2002.

The ED statement said the investigation revealed that Utpal Kumar Chowdhury projected himself as a senior officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and got prepared fake identity cards to that effect.

He incorporated firms bearing deceptive similarity to government departments and Public Sector Undertakings, including ‘Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura’ and ‘M/s Bridge & Roof Co.’.

He fraudulently took control of a registered trust, Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha.

Using these entities, he allegedly lured people in business and investors with false promises of government tenders, mid‑day meal supply contracts and rubber business profits. He induced them to remit funds running into crores of rupees into bank accounts of these entities.

The proceeds of crime so collected were routed through a web of shell firms controlled by the accused and his associates, and were substantially withdrawn in cash for distribution.

A significant portion of the proceeds was further traced to downstream entities and integrated into immovable properties, vehicles and other assets held in the names of the accused and his family members.

Investigation has further revealed that Tripura cadre IAS officer Abhishek Chandra, presently under suspension, received proceeds of crime generated by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and his associates, both directly into his personal bank accounts and indirectly through payments made by scheme entities to a private housing company towards booking of a flat in his name.

Including the present order, the total value of assets provisionally attached in the case, across two Provisional Attachment Orders, stands at approximately Rs 1.63 crore. Further investigation is underway.