Agartala: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has provisionally attached movable and immovable assets worth about Rs 2.21 crore in connection with a ganja trafficking and money laundering case involving Bishu Kumar Tripura and his associates, officials said on Friday.
The action was carried out by the ED’s Agartala Sub-Zonal Office under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
According to officials, the attached properties belong to Bishu Kumar Tripura, Kamini Debbarma, and Bikash Debbarma and were allegedly acquired from the proceeds of large-scale cannabis trafficking in Tripura.
The ED initiated its investigation based on multiple FIRs registered by Tripura Police. These include cases at Melaghar Police Station, involving the seizure of 243 kg of dry ganja, and at Bishalgarh Police Station, involving the seizure of 3,390 kg of dry ganja.
During the investigation, ED officials conducted searches at several locations, including the residence of Bishu Kumar Tripura, where 66 kg of ganja was recovered, officials said. A separate FIR was subsequently registered by Melaghar Police Station in connection with this seizure.
Officials said the predicate offences are covered under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and the Indian Penal Code.
The investigation revealed that Bishu Kumar Tripura and Kamini Debbarma were allegedly involved in organised ganja trafficking. The contraband was reportedly procured from Sepahijala district and transported to states including West Bengal and Bihar, officials said.
The proceeds of crime were primarily generated in cash through hawala or hundi channels and later deposited in bank accounts held by the accused and their family members, they added.
According to the ED, the funds were subsequently invested in immovable properties, vehicles, a brick kiln business, and a flat in Kolkata. Fabricated financial records were allegedly created to project the illicit proceeds as legitimate income.
Officials further said that Bikash Debbarma allowed his bank accounts to be used for routing the proceeds of crime on the instructions of the main accused, facilitating the layering and movement of funds.
Further investigation in the case is underway, officials added.