Agartala, August 27, 2025: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub-Zonal Office, has seized cash worth ₹7 lakh and frozen bank accounts containing around ₹60 lakh during search operations conducted on August 26 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.

The searches were carried out across multiple locations in Tripura, Delhi, Haryana, and West Bengal in connection with an ongoing investigation against Utpal Kumar Chowdhury of Tripura, who is accused of running a massive money laundering racket.

According to the ED, the investigation began on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by West Bengal Police against Chowdhury. Preliminary findings suggest that he had created a network of fake entities resembling government and PSU organisations—such as the Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura, Bridge and Roof Company, and the Directorate of Apparel Council of India—to deceive the public.

“By incorporating company names similar to reputed government organisations, he induced people to invest in fraudulent concerns. He also impersonated a high-ranking government officer and cheated several institutions and individuals with false promises of contracts and educational schemes,” the ED press statement said.

Investigators further revealed that Chowdhury fraudulently took control of an NGO—M/s Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha—registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA), and used its bank accounts to launder illicit funds.

Through a web of bogus transactions, more than ₹200 crore is believed to have been laundered under the guise of a fake rubber trade across Tripura, Haryana, Delhi, and Kolkata. “No genuine records of rubber trade or transportation were found. The proceeds of crime were withdrawn in cash or routed to various entities under false entries,” officials added.

During the searches, the ED seized stamps of several Tripura government departments, including the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Department and the Directorate of Higher Education, along with fake IDs of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Digital records, forged documents, and evidence of real estate investments in Tripura were also recovered.

The agency claimed that Chowdhury enjoyed close ties with senior officials of the Tripura government, who allegedly introduced him as a high-ranking officer to businessmen. Large sums of money were reportedly paid to these officers as part of the scam.

Currently lodged in a Haryana jail, Chowdhury remains under investigation as the ED continues to unravel the financial trail.