Guwahati: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted search and seizure operations at 13 locations across Tripura, West Bengal and Maharashtra in connection with an alleged fake government tender racket that reportedly defrauded a Nagpur-based company of approximately Rs 14.55 crore.
The searches were carried out on November 4 by the ED’s Agartala Sub-Zonal Office under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The investigation concerns an alleged fraud operated through a fictitious entity named ‘Directorate of Higher Education’, which was used to issue purported government tenders in Tripura’s mid-day meal and power sectors.
The investigation comes after an FIR registered at Capital Complex Police Station in West Tripura following a complaint by M/s SK Sales Corporation of Nagpur against Abhishek Chandra, an IAS officer of the Tripura cadre, and his co-conspirators.
According to the ED, the complainant was fraudulently induced to pay Earnest Money Deposits (EMDs) amounting to approximately Rs 14.55 crore between September 2024 and February 2025 against government tenders that had never actually been floated.
The FIR invokes Sections 61(2), 316, 318(4), 319(2), 336(3), 338, 340(2) and 341(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, relating to criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, cheating by impersonation and forgery. As these offences are scheduled offences under the PMLA, the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and initiated a money-laundering investigation.
The ED’s investigation has revealed that Chandra, who is currently under suspension, presented himself as an official controlling the government’s tender processes in Tripura. He allegedly introduced the complainant to one Utpal Kumar Chowdhury, claiming that Chowdhury was responsible for processing payments.
The EMDs were deposited through demand drafts in favour of an entity named ‘Directorate of Higher Education’. However, the ED found that the entity was actually a proprietary concern belonging to Chowdhury, bearing a name deceptively similar to the genuine government department.
Investigators suspect that forged tender notices and work orders were used to induce payments. A joint venture involving Krishna Chakraborty, represented by her husband Sudip Paul, was allegedly used to structure the collection of funds.
The ED further alleged that partial refunds were made at crucial stages to maintain the complainant’s confidence and persuade the firm to make additional payments.
According to the agency, funds deposited into the fictitious entity’s accounts were transferred through a network of shell entities within days, and in some instances within 24 hours. Several of these entities were allegedly registered in the names of domestic staff and associates of Chowdhury.
The suspected proceeds of crime were allegedly used to acquire immovable properties, including flats in a housing project and a residential property in Mumbai’s Shivaji Park area, in the names of family members of Chandra. Funds were also allegedly spent on foreign travel and luxury goods.
Investigators have also identified suspected fund transfers through a hawala conduit based in Kolkata.
The ED said it was already investigating Chowdhury and others in a separate money-laundering case, ECIR/AGSZO/03/2025, arising from five FIRs registered in West Bengal and Tripura. The agency alleged that the same fictitious entity and modus operandi were used to defraud multiple victims of more than Rs 44 crore in that case.
The ED has already issued two provisional attachment orders in the separate investigation — Order No. 01/2026 dated January 22, 2026, and Order No. 05/2026 dated July 31, 2026.
The latest searches covered the residential premises of Chandra and suspected hawala operators, besides offices of companies and entities allegedly connected to the money trail.
During the operations, the agency seized a large volume of documents allegedly relating to hawala transactions, details of high-value properties and records indicating suspected control over corporate entities. Digital devices and records belonging to various accused persons were also seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
The ED said further investigation is underway.