Nagpur-Based Firm Alleges Rs 14.55-Crore Tender Fraud Involving Tripura IAS Officer Abhishek Chandra, Agartala’s NCC Police Register Case

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, October 17, 2026

A Nagpur-based business firm has alleged that it was cheated of approximately Rs 14.55 crore through a purported government tender scam involving IAS officer Abhishek Chandra and several other individuals, according to the contents of a police complaint. The allegations centre on purported government contracts for the supply of mid-day meals and other projects in Tripura, allegedly backed by fabricated tender documents and work orders.

According to the complaint filed by Manish Malani, 48, a resident of Nagpur, Maharashtra, the alleged fraud began in February 2024, when he came to know of Abhishek Chandra through a mutual acquaintance in connection with SK Sales Corporation. Chandra allegedly introduced himself as a senior IAS officer associated with the Tripura Government and claimed to have authority over the floating and supervision of tenders under various departments, including the Directorate of Higher Education.

The complainant stated that Chandra subsequently spoke of lucrative business opportunities in the power and mid-day meal sectors and allegedly assured the firm that it could secure government contracts through the tendering process. During a meeting at Khan Market in New Delhi in August 2024, Chandra allegedly reiterated his official position, showed purported tender-related documents and encouraged the firm to participate in the proposed projects.

The complaint further alleges that Chandra suggested forming a joint venture with Krishna Chakraborty, who was represented by her husband, Sudip Paul. According to the complainant, Paul was interested in participating in the proposed tenders but allegedly lacked the necessary financial resources.

Acting on the assurances allegedly given to them, SK Sales Corporation and Krishna Chakraborty entered into a joint venture agreement on September 4, 2024, under the name SK Sales Corporation Krishna Chakraborty JV. The stated purpose was to participate in tenders and execute government contracts for the supply of mid-day meals in Tripura. A bank account was subsequently opened in the joint venture's name at Bank of Baroda's Sitabuldi branch in Nagpur.

The complainant alleged that, at the instructions of Chandra, the joint venture deposited an Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) of Rs 1,94,05,725 through a demand draft dated September 4, 2024, in the name of the Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura. The payment was reportedly made in response to a Notice Inviting Expression of Interest dated August 28, 2024.

A purported work order dated September 19, 2024, bearing reference number F 9/642/083/DHE/2024 and valued at Rs 2.56 crore, was subsequently issued in the name of the joint venture, according to the complaint. The complainant claimed that the document reinforced their belief that the contract had been legitimately awarded.

The alleged financial exposure increased over the following months. Between September 2024 and February 2025, the firm reportedly paid additional EMDs against other purported tenders, taking the total amount involved to Rs 14,55,42,945. The complainant alleged that representatives of the firm personally delivered the demand drafts to Chandra at his office and that he acknowledged receiving them on several occasions.

The complaint also describes a visit to Tripura in October 2024, when the complainant and other representatives of the firm allegedly travelled to the state at Chandra's invitation, accompanied by Sudip Paul. During the visit, Chandra reportedly introduced them to individuals whom he identified as government officials and bankers, including people described as officers of Punjab National Bank and IAS officers. One individual, identified as Utpal Chaudhary, was allegedly introduced as the official responsible for processing payments relating to the purported work orders.

These introductions, along with communications exchanged through WhatsApp groups and individual messages, allegedly strengthened the firm's belief that the projects were genuine. A WhatsApp group was reportedly created on September 21, 2024, involving the complainant, the firm's partners and Chandra. According to the complaint, Chandra and Paul continued to provide assurances about the progress of the contracts, the refund of EMDs and the profits expected from the joint venture.

Certain payments were subsequently received by the firm, which allegedly further reinforced its confidence in the arrangement. According to the complaint, Rs 1.94 crore was received on January 13, 2025, purportedly as a refund of the initial EMD. The firm also received Rs 15 lakh on October 28, 2024, Rs 30 lakh on February 28, 2025, and Rs 1 crore on March 3, 2025. The latter payments were allegedly represented as part-payments towards the firm's share of the joint venture's profits.

The complainant stated that these transactions, reportedly originating from accounts associated with Krishna Chakraborty and the Directorate of Higher Education, Tripura, appeared to support the claims that the contracts were genuine. However, the promised refunds and profits allegedly did not materialise thereafter.

When the firm repeatedly sought updates, Chandra allegedly attributed the delays to the ill health and hospitalisation of Utpal Chaudhary, who had purportedly been assigned responsibility for processing payments. The complainant alleged that subsequent attempts to contact the individuals involved failed, with calls and messages going unanswered.

The alleged fraud came to light in April 2025, when Malani reportedly visited Tripura and made inquiries about the purported contracts. According to the complaint, he then discovered that the Directorate of Higher Education had not floated the tenders in question and that the documents and work orders relied upon by the firm were allegedly forged or fabricated.

The complaint accuses Abhishek Chandra, Krishna Chakraborty, Sudip Paul, Utpal Chaudhary and their alleged associates of acting in concert to deceive the firm through purported government contracts, fabricated documents and representations of official authority. The complainant has alleged that the acts caused financial losses amounting to approximately Rs 14.55 crore.

On the basis of the written complaint, police registered a case, and the officer-in-charge reportedly assigned the investigation to Sub-Inspector Rahul Das.

The allegations are serious, involving purported government procurement processes and substantial financial transactions.

Notably, Shri Abhishek Chandra is an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the 2003 batch from the Tripura cadre. He entered the service as a Direct Recruit through the UPSC Civil Services Examination. As of October 2025, he has been placed under suspension by the Government of Tripura following major financial fraud allegations.

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