Rs.60 Lakh Cash Scam: Accused Ex-DFO Gaurav Rabindra Wagh Absconds, Serious Lapses Expose Police Failure in Tripura
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, April 30, 2026
In a shocking and deeply embarrassing development for Tripura Police, the prime accused in the Rs.60 lakh cash recovery case, former South Tripura DFO Gaurav Rabindra Wagh, has absconded, allegedly slipping past multiple layers of senior police supervision. The incident has now snowballed into what many are calling one of the most disgraceful chapters in the state police’s recent history.
The case began on April 23, 2026, when Agartala GRPS intercepted Mumbai-bound passenger Rajendra Chintaman Kankachila at Agartala Railway Station and recovered Rs.59,95,500 in cash from his possession. According to official FIR records, the money was concealed in a trolley bag and is suspected to be linked to illegal gratification involving government-related works. During interrogation, Rajendra disclosed that the cash had been handed over to him by his nephew, DFO Gaurav Rabindra Wagh, for transport to Mumbai.
Despite this crucial revelation and the serious nature of the offence, the Crime Branch did not immediately arrest the DFO. Instead, he was repeatedly questioned over the past two days, even as evidence reportedly pointed towards his direct involvement. This hesitation and delay in action have now come under intense scrutiny.
In a dramatic turn of events, when the Crime Branch team finally moved to arrest him, Gaurav Rabindra Wagh was nowhere to be found. He was missing from his temporary accommodation at the State Forest Guest House and could not be traced at Aranya Bhavan either. It has now emerged that the accused managed to escape quietly, allegedly leaving his mobile phone switched on at the location to mislead investigators, before fleeing by road.
What has made the situation even more alarming is that the accused reportedly managed to evade the watch of top police officials, including DIG Crime Branch Sanjoy Roy, SP Piya Madhuri, and ASP Souvik De. The fact that a high-profile accused in a corruption case of this magnitude could escape despite being under active investigation has raised serious questions about coordination, supervision, and intent within the police machinery.
Sources indicate that the accused was being kept in close proximity to key government premises, near the Forest Department, yet no effective surveillance mechanism was in place to prevent his escape. His disappearance has triggered widespread criticism, with many questioning how a senior officer under suspicion in a Rs.60 lakh corruption case was allowed such operational freedom.
Meanwhile, co-accused Rajendra Chintaman remains in police custody and has been remanded till May 4, 2026. Investigators are continuing to interrogate him to uncover further details about the source of the cash and the involvement of other individuals, including possible links to public servants as indicated in the FIR.
The FIR clearly mentions provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, suggesting that the case involves a broader conspiracy tied to illegal financial transactions within government systems.
However, the escape of the main accused has overshadowed the investigation itself. What was initially seen as a major breakthrough in uncovering a corruption racket has now turned into a glaring example of alleged police negligence. Critics argue that the failure to arrest the accused immediately after his name surfaced, and the lack of proper monitoring even after the case was handed over to the Crime Branch, directly enabled his escape.
The incident has sparked outrage within administrative circles and among the public, with growing demands for accountability at the highest levels of the police department. Questions are being raised about whether the case was handled with the seriousness it deserved and whether senior officials ensured proper oversight.
As search operations intensify to trace the absconding ex-DFO, the focus is now not only on apprehending him but also on fixing responsibility for what appears to be a systemic failure. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether Tripura Police can recover from this setback and restore public confidence, or whether this case will remain a lasting stain on its record.
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