Wanted scamster Utpal Chowdhury brought to Tripura

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 5, 2026

Notorious fraudster Utpal Chowdhury, arrested earlier by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the Rs 250 crore mid-day meal supply scam, was brought back to Tripura on Sunday for further investigation.

Sources in the Tripura Police said Chowdhury is wanted in several cases being probed by multiple state and central agencies. Cases have been registered against him in Tripura, West Bengal and other parts of the country. He was arrested in September 2025 from Haryana, following which the Enforcement Directorate registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The ED probe revealed that large sums of money were allegedly paid to some senior officials of the Tripura government. The investigation was initiated based on multiple FIRs lodged by West Bengal Police. During searches, agencies recovered incriminating digital and physical evidence, including fake identity cards of the Ministry of Home Affairs and stamps of various Tripura government departments and public sector undertakings.

Investigators also found evidence of investments in real estate and land across Tripura. The ED conducted coordinated search operations at several locations in Tripura, Delhi, Haryana and West Bengal.

According to officials, Chowdhury created a network of entities with names resembling government departments and PSUs to dupe investors. He allegedly impersonated a senior central government officer and cheated educational institutions and individuals by promising government contracts and mid-day meal tenders.

A close relative of a political functionary, Chowdhury had operated from an office in AD Nagar, which was later sealed. Several raids were conducted at the residences of his staff, while multiple agencies continue to pursue the case.

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