Guwahati, Aug 27: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub-Zonal Office, carried out extensive raids on August 26, 2025, across Tripura, Delhi, Haryana, and West Bengal in connection with an ongoing investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 against Utpal Kumar Chowdhury of Tripura.

The investigation follows multiple FIRs filed by West Bengal Police. ED’s probe revealed that Chowdhury had created a network of entities with names closely resembling government departments and public sector undertakings, including the Directorate of Higher Education Tripura, Bridge and Roof Company, and the Directorate of Apparel Council of India.

By impersonating senior government officials and misrepresenting these entities, Chowdhury allegedly defrauded numerous individuals and institutions. He promised education institutes placements of students from Tripura and tender contracts for mid-day meal programs, resulting in substantial financial gains.

The ED also found that Chowdhury took control of the NGO M/s Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha, registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, using its bank accounts to launder over Rs 200 crore. The so-called “rubber business” transactions across Tripura, Haryana, Delhi, and Kolkata were found to be entirely fictitious. Large sums were reportedly withdrawn in cash after routing through multiple shell entities.

Chowdhury allegedly leveraged connections with senior Tripura government officials, who introduced him as a high-ranking officer to businessmen, facilitating fraudulent contracts. Investigations indicate significant payments were made to these officials.

During the raids, ED seized digital and physical evidence, including departmental stamps of the Tripura government, fake IDs of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and documents linked to various PSUs. Cash worth Rs 7 lakh was recovered, and bank accounts holding approximately Rs 60 lakh have been frozen. Evidence related to real estate and land investments in Tripura was also collected.

Utpal Kumar Chowdhury is currently in Haryana jail, and the investigation is ongoing.

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