The CBI has arrested Partha Samaddar, Director of Kolkata’s Himangini Infracon India Ltd, in the Tripura chit fund scam. Linked to a ₹25 lakh fraud, his arrest follows multiple captures of absconding accused across India. The scam defrauded thousands, prompting ongoing investigations and a High Court-ordered refund scheme.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a key accused in the high-profile Tripura chit fund scam, further tightening the noose on those allegedly involved in defrauding investors across multiple states.
On Monday, the CBI arrested Partha Samaddar, one of the Directors of M/s Himangini Infracon India Ltd, a Kolkata-based chit fund firm accused of cheating depositors out of nearly ₹25 lakh. A Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) had been issued against Samaddar by the Special Judge (CBI), West Tripura, Agartala, on July 22, 2025, after he repeatedly failed to appear before the trial court.
According to a statement from the CBI, the agency had registered the case on March 14, 2023, following allegations that the company had fraudulently defaulted on repayment of deposits on maturity, along with promised returns. After a detailed investigation, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Samaddar on September 28, 2024.
The arrested director was produced before a Magistrate Court in Kolkata, which granted a three-day transit remand to bring him before the Special CBI Judge in Agartala. The trial in the case remains ongoing.
Multiple Arrests in a Widening Probe
Samaddar’s arrest comes amid a broader CBI crackdown on absconding accused in the Tripura chit fund scam. On February 7 this year, the agency nabbed three co-accused—Minnatullah Barbhuiya (Hyderabad), Kamrul Islam Barbhuiya (Hojai, Assam), and Imdadullah Barbhuiya (Vellore, Tamil Nadu). All three hail from Hailakandi district, Assam, and are linked to M/s Kama (India) Projects and Services Ltd, another chit fund company allegedly involved in duping investors.
These arrests followed a re-registration of cases by the CBI, based on notifications issued by both the Tripura government and the Government of India. The agency took over three separate cases originally filed at police stations in West Agartala (September 2014), Kumarghat (March 2013), and Teliamura (August 2012).
The Alleged Scam Mechanism
Sources within the CBI revealed that the accused collected large sums from unsuspecting investors by promising high profits or guaranteed returns—without obtaining necessary permissions from SEBI, RBI, or any other regulatory authority. Once funds were collected, the money was allegedly siphoned off or misappropriated by the company’s management.
Despite repeated summons, Minnatullah, Kamrul, and Imdadullah did not cooperate with the investigation and were found to have been absconding for years. As a result, Non-Bailable Warrants were issued to secure their presence for questioning.
Earlier Arrests and Long-Running Evasion
On February 3, the CBI arrested another wanted accused, Bikash Das, from Bhiwandi, Maharashtra. Das, also a resident of Hailakandi district, was named in two FIRs related to chit fund scams referred to the CBI by the Tripura government.
He had been declared a proclaimed offender by the Special CBI Judge, Agartala, after evading arrest since 2013. The court issued a standing warrant against him in August 2024, and the CBI even announced a ₹20,000 cash reward for information leading to his capture.
The Bigger Picture: A Multi-Crore Scam
The Tripura chit fund scams have rocked the northeastern state for years. Multiple companies operating under Ponzi schemes collected thousands of crores of rupees from investors, particularly targeting small depositors and middle-class families.
These scams triggered widespread protests and litigation, prompting the Tripura High Court last year to order a special scheme for returning defrauded investors’ money. However, recovery has been slow, with many accused absconding for years before arrests were made.
CBI’s Continued Efforts
With the latest arrest of Partha Samaddar, the CBI’s pursuit of accused individuals in the Tripura chit fund scam shows no signs of slowing. The agency continues to track down fugitives across India, coordinating with state police forces to ensure their production before trial courts.
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Officials suggest that more arrests are likely in the coming months as the investigation progresses, especially with multiple connected companies under scrutiny.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of unregulated investment schemes—and the long road to justice for thousands of cheated investors in Tripura and beyond.
