ED finds Senior Tripura officials’ nexus with fraudster, over Rs 200 cr laundered
Cash Rs. 7 lakh, documents seized, bank accounts with approx Rs. 60 lakh frozen
The raids by Directorate of Enforcement (ED) which raided several places on Tuesday in Agartala and also other places outside the state like Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal unearthed a deep rooted nexus with some senior official(s) of the Tripura government with fraudster Utpal Kumar Chowdhury. The ED raids were conducted in connection with a huge money laundering PMLA case involving over Rs. 200 crore.
According to ED, the cash of Rs. 7 lakh and important documents were seized and bank accounts having total balance of approximately Rs. 60 lakh were frozen in the raids.
The ED investigation revealed that large sums of money were paid to a few senior officers of the Govt of Tripura who also used to introduce him to various businessmen.
The ED investigation revealed that large sums of money were paid to a few senior officers of the Govt of Tripura who also used to introduce him to various businessmen. The ED initiated investigation on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by West Bengal Police against Utpal Kumar Chowdhury.
The accused- Utpal Kumar Chaudhary is currently in Haryana Jail. Further investigation is under progress.
During search, various incriminating digital and physical evidences, stamps of various departments of Govt of Tripura i.e. Food, Civil Supplies and consumer Department, Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Higher Education Elementary School, other PSUs and fake IDs of Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India was found and seized.
Incriminating evidence has been found with regards to investment in real estate and lands in various places of Tripura.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub Zonal Office has conducted search operations on under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 at various premises in Tripura, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal.
ED investigation revealed that Chowdhury had set up a web of entities/ concerns where the names resemble to the government or PSU entities i.e. Directorate of Higher Education Tripura, Bridge and Roof Company and Directorate of Apparel Council of India. By incorporating concerns or company names similar to or resembling with a reputed govt. entities and PSUs he had induced the public to invest money in such duplicate concerns.
He had impersonated as high rank officer in Govt. of India and cheated various persons on the basis of false assurance of availing govt. contracts.
Projecting himself as head of Directorate of Higher Education of Tripura, he cheated many education institutes on the promise of sending students to their institutes from Tripura and also cheated many individual on the false promise of giving tender of mid-day meal in various institutes under the Directorate of Higher Education of Tripura, according to ED.
He had also fraudulently took over the control of a NGO named M/s.Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha, registered under Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and opened its bank account to launder the money of various persons.
“It was found that through the circuitous web of transactions in such bank accounts the money was laundered through false entries. Primary investigation reveals that more than Rs 200 Crore have been laundered through the Chalatkhali Swamiji Seva Sangh to different entities/ concerns situated at Haryana, Kolkata and Delhi under the facade of bogus business of rubber with the rented bank accounts,” the ED said.
The rubber business shown in Tripura by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and his accomplices in various states was found to be bogus as the actual sale/purchase of rubber was not there and only on papers the sale/purchase was shown. Also no details of transportation of rubber goods were found.
The trust was utilised to give entries to the above entities and in many instances huge amounts have been withdrawn in cash after laundering the proceeds.
The ED further unearthed that Chowdhury had close proximity with senior officer(s) of Govt of Tripura who used to introduce him as officer of High rank to various businessmen.
Through such acquaintance with the businessmen, he had cheated them on false promises to get various govt. contract to them. Enquiries revealed that large sums of money were paid to such senior officers of the Govt of Tripura.
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