New Delhi, Aug 27 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) today said that its Agartala Sub Zonal Office recently conducted search operations in connection with a PMLA case related to Utpal Kumar Chowdhury of Tripura.
The searches were conducted at various premises in Tripura, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal.
The ED initiated PMLA investigation based on multiple FIRs registered by West Bengal Police against Chowdhury.
The ED investigation revealed that he had set up a web of entities/ concerns where the names resemble to the government or PSU entities i.e. Directorate of Higher Education Tripura, Bridge and Roof Company and the Directorate of Apparel Council of India.
By incorporating concerns or company names similar to or resembling reputed government entities and PSUs, he had induced the public to invest money in such duplicate concerns.
“He had impersonated as a high-ranking officer in the Government of India and cheated various persons by giving false assurance of availing the government. contracts. Projecting himself as head of the Directorate of Higher Education of Tripura, he cheated many educational institutes on the promise of sending students to their institutes from Tripura and also cheated many individuals on the false promise of giving tenders for mid-day meal in various institutes under the Directorate of Higher Education of Tripura,” the ED said.
“He had also fraudulently taken over the control of an NGO named M/s.Chaltakhali Swamiji Seva Sangha, registered under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act and opened its bank account to launder the money of various persons. It was found that through the circuitous web of transactions in such bank accounts, the money was laundered through false entries.
Primary investigation reveals that more than Rs 200 Crore have been laundered through the Chalatkhali Swamiji Seva Sangh to different entities/ concerns situated at Haryana, Kolkata and Delhi under the facade of bogus business of rubber with the rented bank accounts,” the ED added.
The official further said that the rubber business shown in Tripura by Chowdhury and his accomplices in various states was found to be bogus, as the actual sale/purchase of rubber was not there, and only on pape,r the sale/purchase was shown.
Also, no details of the transportation of rubber goods were found. The above trust was utilised to give entries to the above entities and in many instances, huge amounts have been withdrawn in cash after laundering the proceeds.
Chowdhury had proximity to senior officers of the Government of Tripura who used to introduce him as a high official to various businessmen.
Through such acquaintance with the businessmen, he had cheated them on false promises to get them various government contracts. Enquiries revealed that large sums of money were paid to such senior officers of the Government of Tripura.
During the search, various incriminating digital and physical evidences, stamps of various departments of the Govt of Tripura, i.e. Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Department, Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Higher Education Elementary School, other PSUs and fake IDs of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India was found and seized.
“Further, the cash of Rs. 7 Lakh was seized and bank accounts having a total balance of approximately. Rs. 60 Lakh were frozen. Incriminating evidence has been found with regard to investment in real estate and lands in various places in Tripura. Utpal Kumar Chaudhary is currently in Haryana Jail,” said the ED official.
