Notorious scamster Utpal Chowdhury, accused in a Rs 250 crore mid-day meal scam and multiple fraud cases, has been brought back to Tripura as central and state agencies intensify investigations under the PMLA.
The infamous fraudster Utpal Kumar Chowdhury, accused of masterminding a massive Rs 250 crore mid-day meal supply scam, has been brought back to Tripura on Sunday amid heightened security. Chowdhury, who was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in September 2025, is wanted in several cases being investigated by both state and central agencies.
Sources in the Tripura Police confirmed that Chowdhury has long been under the radar of multiple investigating agencies due to his alleged involvement in financial fraud, impersonation, and large-scale money laundering. Several criminal cases have been registered against him across Tripura, West Bengal, and other parts of the country.
According to officials, Chowdhury was initially apprehended by the Revenue Directorate (RD) from Haryana in September. Subsequently, the Enforcement Directorate registered a case against him under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on multiple FIRs filed by the West Bengal Police.
Investigations by the ED revealed that Chowdhury had allegedly paid large sums of money to a few senior officers of the Government of Tripura to facilitate his illegal operations. During extensive search operations conducted at various locations in Tripura, Delhi, Haryana, and West Bengal, officials seized a substantial amount of incriminating digital and physical evidence.
Among the seized items were forged stamps of several Tripura government departments, including the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department, Directorate of Higher Education, Elementary Education Directorate, and other public sector undertakings. Fake identity cards of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, were also recovered, raising serious concerns about national security implications.
The ED further uncovered evidence indicating large-scale investments made by Chowdhury in real estate and land properties across different regions of Tripura. Officials believe that proceeds of crime were systematically laundered through these assets.
Investigators disclosed that Chowdhury had created a complex web of shell entities and firms whose names closely resembled those of reputed government departments and PSUs, such as the Directorate of Higher Education Tripura, Bridge and Roof Company, and Directorate of Apparel Council of India. These deceptive naming strategies were allegedly used to mislead investors and the general public.
By impersonating a high-ranking Government of India official, Chowdhury is accused of cheating individuals and institutions by offering fake assurances of government contracts. He reportedly projected himself as the head of the Directorate of Higher Education of Tripura and duped several educational institutions by promising student admissions from the state. He also allegedly deceived individuals by offering fraudulent mid-day meal tenders.
| Also Read: Tripura DGP Reviews Border Security and Law Order in Kanchanpur |
Chowdhury, who is reportedly a close relative of a political functionary, had established an office in the AD Nagar area of Agartala and employed local staff. The office was sealed by the police earlier, and multiple raids were conducted at the residences of his associates in recent months.
Multiple agencies, including the Tripura Police, West Bengal Police, Enforcement Directorate, and Revenue Directorate, continue to pursue the case as further investigations are underway.
