The Enforcement Directorate (ED) Agartala sub-zonal office has provisionally attached bank balances worth approximately Rs 1.12 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, along with funds in the name of suspended Tripura cadre IAS officer Abhishek Chandra.
The order, issued on July 31, relates to a case involving impersonation of government officials and the cheating of investors and businessmen through entities designed to resemble genuine government organisations.
The attached assets include bank balances held in the names of shell entities controlled by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury, Abhishek Chandra, and a private housing company — proceeds the ED says are traceable to the fraud.
The investigation was launched under the PMLA based on multiple FIRs filed in West Bengal and Tripura against Chowdhury and his associates for cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust and impersonation.
Investigators say Chowdhury posed as a senior Ministry of Home Affairs official, backed by fake identity cards, and floated firms with names mimicking government departments and PSUs — including “Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura” and “M/s Bridge & Roof Co” — while also fraudulently taking control of a registered trust.
Through these entities, he allegedly lured investors with promises of government tenders, mid-day meal supply contracts, and rubber business profits, inducing transfers running into crores of rupees.
The ED said proceeds were routed through a network of shell firms, largely withdrawn in cash, and partly invested in property, vehicles, and other assets held by the accused and their family members.
Chandra allegedly received proceeds both directly and indirectly, including payments funnelled through a private housing company to book a flat in his name.
With this latest action, total assets attached in the case across two orders have reached roughly Rs 1.63 crore. The investigation continues.
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