ED arrests Tripura government officer: The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Utpal Kumar Chowdhury for posing as a senior Tripura government official and laundering an extraordinary amount of ₹200 crores through a hijacked NGO, Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha.
Chowdhury allegedly created fictitious entities with names similar to government departments and PSUs such as Directorate of Higher Education Tripura and Bridge and Roof Company, to deceive educational institutions into believing he could secure contracts and admissions, as well as tenders for projects.
Multiple raids conducted across Tripura, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal uncovered alarming fake stamps, seals, and identities impersonating the Ministry of Home Affairs, in addition to seized cash, frozen accounts and property documents. The “rubber trade” that appeared to be arranged per the documents is now understood to be a pure paper trail to enable Chowdhury paying money for laundering purposes.
Investigators suspect some Tripura officials may have aided in Chowdhury’s operations by introducing him to businessmen as it was understood he was a top bureaucrat in state government service. It is expected some officials may have pocketed payoffs as their alleged activities aided Chowdhury in violating the law.
Chowdhury is currently in jail in Haryana while the ED unravels months of intricate fraudulent behaviours of Chowdhury, false identities and siphoning substantial amounts of money believing there may be more shocking developments yet to unfold.
