CM Dr. Manik Saha Says Law Will Take Its Own Course Against Suspended IAS Officer Abhishek Chandra, Fresh Rs. 14.55 Crore Fraud Case Intensifies Scrutiny
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 7, 2026
Chief Minister Professor (Dr.) Manik Manik Saha has asserted that the Tripura Government has already taken administrative action against suspended Tripura-cadre IAS officer Abhishek Chandra and that all further proceedings against him will be conducted strictly in accordance with the law.
Responding to questions from reporters regarding the recently registered criminal case against Chandra at the New Capital Complex (NCC) Police Station, the Chief Minister said that while the matter has recently attracted widespread public attention, the government had initiated administrative action against the officer much earlier.
"We cannot take any action arbitrarily. Every action has to follow the law. Whatever further action is required against Abhishek Chandra will also proceed strictly through the legal process," Dr. Saha said.
His remarks came in the backdrop of a fresh criminal case alleging a Rs. 14.55 crore fake government tender fraud, which has once again placed the suspended IAS officer under intense public and legal scrutiny.
According to police records, the latest case was registered at the New Capital Complex (NCC) Police Station in Agartala on July 1, 2026 (Case No. 2026NCC044) following a complaint lodged by Manish Malani, representing Nagpur-based SK Sales Corporation.
The complaint alleges that Chandra, along with three other accused—Sudip Paul, Krishna Chakraborty, and Utpal Kumar Chowdhury—induced the company to transfer Rs. 14.55 crore on the promise of securing government tenders and work orders. The complainant later allegedly discovered that the tender documents and work orders were forged and that the promised government projects did not exist.
Based on the complaint, Tripura Police registered offences under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery, and impersonation. The investigation is currently underway, and no court has yet determined the guilt or innocence of any of the accused.
Despite the Chief Minister's statement, the Tripura Police have so far refrained from commenting on the progress of the investigation or disclosing whether any coercive measures have been taken against the accused. Officials have maintained silence, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation.
The latest FIR has revived attention to a long history of legal and departmental proceedings involving Chandra. Soon after joining the Indian Administrative Service in 2003, allegations surfaced that he had entered the civil services using a Scheduled Caste (SC) certificate that investigators later alleged was not genuine.
Subsequently, proceedings were initiated by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and the Government of India. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also filed a charge sheet alleging offences including conspiracy, cheating and forgery. Chandra has consistently denied the allegations, and the matter has remained under prolonged judicial consideration.
The litigation has been heard before the Gauhati High Court, where proceedings have continued for several years. Owing to ongoing judicial proceedings and interim legal protection, no final administrative decision regarding his original appointment to the IAS has yet been implemented.
The controversy has frequently been compared with the case of Chandra's brother, Abhinav Chandra, a former IPS officer of the West Bengal cadre, who was dismissed from service following proceedings related to an allegedly fraudulent Scheduled Caste certificate. The differing outcomes in the two cases have prompted debate among legal observers regarding the pace and consistency of disciplinary action under the All India Services.
Separately, the Government of Tripura placed Abhishek Chandra on compulsory waiting in 2025 before subsequently suspending him pending departmental inquiry and ongoing criminal investigations. The government has maintained that departmental proceedings and criminal investigations are being pursued independently under the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules.
Investigators in the latest case are reportedly examining bank transactions, tracing the alleged money trail, and collecting documentary evidence relating to the purported tender fraud. However, no arrests have been officially confirmed, and investigating agencies have declined to disclose further details while the probe remains in progress.
Apart from the pending criminal cases, several complaints over the years have alleged financial and administrative irregularities during Chandra's tenure in different government departments. Some complaints have also alleged his association with a private company reportedly formed during his service as a government officer. These allegations remain under investigation or are pending before competent legal forums, and no court has delivered a final conviction establishing criminal liability in relation to those allegations.
Before his suspension, Chandra held several key positions in the Government of Tripura, including Special Secretary, Planning Department; Secretary, Information Technology; Managing Director, Tripura Industrial Development Corporation; Director of Commerce and Industries; and Chief Executive Officer of the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC).
The latest developments have renewed calls from sections of civil society and legal observers for the expeditious completion of both the departmental inquiry and the pending judicial proceedings. They argue that prolonged litigation involving a senior civil servant raises important questions about accountability, transparency, and public confidence in the administrative system.
The investigation is ongoing, and all allegations remain subject to judicial determination. Under the law, every accused person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a competent court.
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