The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Agartala Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached bank balances worth approximately Rs 1.12 crore under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with an alleged case of impersonation of government officials and large-scale cheating of investors and businessmen.

According to an official press release issued by the ED, the attachment was made through a Provisional Attachment Order dated July 31, 2026. The attached assets include bank balances held in the names of shell entities allegedly controlled by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury, suspended Tripura cadre IAS officer Abhishek Chandra, and a private housing company. The ED stated that these assets represent the alleged proceeds of crime.

The investigation was initiated under the PMLA based on multiple FIRs registered by police in Tripura and West Bengal against Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and his associates. The accused are facing charges of cheating, forgery, criminal breach of trust, and impersonation under the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the PMLA.

According to the ED, the investigation revealed that Utpal Kumar Chowdhury allegedly posed as a senior official of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, and prepared fake identity cards to support the impersonation. He is also accused of creating firms with names deceptively similar to government departments and public sector undertakings, including the “Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura” and “M/s Bridge & Roof Co.”

The agency further alleged that the accused fraudulently took control of a registered trust, Chatlakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha, and used these entities to lure businessmen and investors with false promises of securing government tenders, mid-day meal supply contracts, and rubber business profits. Victims were allegedly induced to transfer funds amounting to crores of rupees into the bank accounts of these entities.

The ED said the proceeds of crime were routed through a network of shell companies controlled by the accused and their associates before being withdrawn in cash for distribution. A substantial portion of the funds was allegedly traced to downstream entities and invested in immovable properties, vehicles, and other assets held in the names of the accused and their family members.

The investigation has also revealed that suspended IAS officer Abhishek Chandra allegedly received proceeds of crime generated by Utpal Kumar Chowdhury and his associates. According to the ED, the funds were transferred directly to his personal bank accounts and indirectly through payments made by scheme entities to a private housing company towards the booking of a flat in his name.

With the latest attachment, the total value of assets provisionally attached in the case under two Provisional Attachment Orders has reached approximately Rs 1.63 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate stated that further investigation into the case is currently underway.