Massive Cash Recovery Scandal Rocks Tripura Police: Constable Suspended, Two Women Detained as DGP Orders High-Level Probe
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, May 17, 2026
A major controversy has erupted within the Tripura Police after a huge quantity of unaccounted cash was allegedly recovered from the residence of a police constable in Dhalai district’s Salema area, triggering a high-level investigation into suspected financial fraud, illegal money circulation and underground lending operations. The sensational case has already led to the suspension of police constable Piyush Debbarma, while two women, identified as Nandarani Debbarma and Sanjana Debbarma, have been detained by police following intensive interrogation. Senior police officials have indicated that several more individuals, including police personnel and TSR jawans, may also be linked to the alleged racket.
The controversy began after a video surfaced on social media showing bundles of currency notes in denominations of Rs 500, Rs 2,000 and Rs 100 allegedly displayed by Nandarani Debbarma, wife of constable Piyush Debbarma, at their residence in Bhatkhaori village under Salema Police Station in Dhalai district. The viral video immediately drew the attention of the police headquarters. Following the development, Director General of Police Anurag Dhankar reportedly ordered a high-level inquiry and directed DIG Northern Range Ratiranjan Debnath to conduct a detailed investigation.
Acting on the directive, a police team led by DIG Ratiranjan Debnath, along with Dhalai district police officials including Superintendent of Police Rishikesh Desai, SDPO Nirupan Dutta and Salema Police Station Officer-in-Charge Dipak Das, carried out a search operation at the residence of constable Piyush Debbarma. During the investigation, police allegedly recovered a huge amount of cash believed to be disproportionate to the known sources of income of the accused. The recovery triggered widespread discussion across the state and raised serious questions regarding illegal wealth accumulation and possible organised financial misconduct involving law enforcement personnel.
Police sources claimed that during questioning, Nandarani Debbarma disclosed the name of her close associate Sanjana Debbarma, an employee working in the Health Department as an optometry worker. Police subsequently detained Sanjana Debbarma for interrogation. Investigators suspect that the accused were involved in collecting money from people by promising unusually high financial returns and profits. According to preliminary findings, the operation may have functioned as an illegal money circulation and high-interest lending network.
Police also alleged that constable Piyush Debbarma directly assisted the operation and played a key role in facilitating the transactions. Following the developments, he was suspended from service pending further investigation. So far, five persons have reportedly been detained in connection with the case, police constable Piyush Debbarma, his wife Nandarani Debbarma, Health Department employee Sanjana Debbarma, TSR Rifleman Ajit Debbarma and East Agartala Women Police Station constable Menaka Debbarma.
Ajit Debbarma is presently posted with the 14th Battalion of TSR. Police sources said he had earlier served at the Police Headquarters for nearly twelve years before recently being transferred back to battalion duty. Investigators are also examining the possible involvement of another TSR jawan identified as Bijoy Debbarma, along with Sanjana Debbarma’s husband, who is reportedly a young doctor.
According to police sources, the investigation has uncovered indications that the accused were not operating independently and that a larger organised network involving multiple individuals may be active. Officials are now trying to determine the exact source of the recovered cash and whether the money is linked to fraud, illegal lending activities or other unlawful drugs related financial transactions.
Interestingly, amid the controversy, Nandarani Debbarma herself reportedly lodged a complaint at Salema Police Station alleging harassment over the circulation of the viral cash video on social media. Police have registered a case, and intensive interrogation is continuing at Ambassa and NCC police stations. Senior officers have stated that the primary focus of the investigation is to trace the origin of the money, identify all persons connected to the network and establish whether wider financial irregularities are involved.
The incident comes close on the heels of several recent high-profile cash recovery cases in Tripura. Only days earlier, Special Branch Police at Agartala Railway Station reportedly intercepted nearly Rs 60 lakh in cash allegedly being transported in trolley bags by relatives of an IFS officer from Mumbai. Earlier incidents during both Left Front and BJP regimes had also triggered allegations of illegal cash hoarding, though many of those cases reportedly did not lead to visible punitive action.
Against this backdrop, the latest controversy has intensified public debate over the rise of illegal money networks, unaccounted cash transactions and the alleged involvement of influential individuals in underground financial operations across the state. Although the Police Headquarters had not issued any detailed official statement till late Saturday night, sources indicated that the DGP has instructed investigating officers to proceed strictly and without leniency. Officials said strong legal action would be initiated if wrongdoing is established during the course of the investigation.
The case has now emerged as one of the most significant law enforcement controversies in Tripura in recent times, drawing widespread public attention and raising fresh concerns over corruption, illegal wealth accumulation and financial misconduct within sections of the administration.
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