AGARTALA: Hawala channels, fabricated balance sheets, specially concealed vehicle cavities, and fraudulent government compensation claims have all come under the Enforcement Directorate’s scanner as the agency moved against money laundering networks across two states in two days, attaching properties worth approximately Rs 5.78 crore in three separate operations targeting drug traffickers in Tripura and a highway scam network in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Agartala Sub-Zonal Office carried out two consecutive attachment actions worth a combined Rs 3.41 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, while the Itanagar Sub-Zonal Office on the same day attached properties worth Rs 2.37 crore in connection with a land acquisition compensation scam under the Trans-Arunachal Highway project.
Fake Books, Hawala Cash and a Ganja Trail
In the first Tripura action on Friday, March 27, the Agartala Sub Zonal Office provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worth approximately Rs 2.21 crore belonging to Bishu Kumar Tripura, Kamini Debbarma, and Bikash Debbarma, in connection with large-scale ganja trafficking from Tripura and subsequent laundering of proceeds through various bank accounts.
The ED initiated its investigation under PMLA, 2002, on the basis of multiple FIRs registered by Tripura Police, including one by Melaghar Police Station for the seizure of 243 kg of dry ganja and another by Bishalgarh Police Station for the seizure of 3,390 kg of dry ganja.
During searches conducted at the residential premises of the accused, ED officials recovered an additional 66 kg of ganja from the dwelling of Bishu Kumar Tripura, following which Melaghar Police Station registered a fresh FIR. The predicate offenses fall under the NDPS Act, 1985, and the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
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According to the ED, Bishu Kumar Tripura and Kamini Debbarma were partners in the organized business of illegal ganja trafficking. The contraband was procured from the Sepahijala district of Tripura and transported to and sold in West Bengal, Bihar, and other states.
Proceeds of crime were received largely in cash through Hawala and Hundi channels and thereafter invested in immovable properties, vehicles, a brick field business and a flat in Kolkata. Fabricated balance sheets with false figures of income and expenditure were prepared to project the illicit proceeds as legitimate business earnings.
Bikash Debbarma, described as an associate, knowingly allowed his bank accounts to be used for routing and receiving proceeds of crime on the instructions of Bishu Kumar Tripura and Kamini Debbarma.
Codeine, Cannabis and a Serving Police Officer’s Alleged Cut
The following day, the Agartala Sub Zonal Office attached properties worth approximately Rs 1.20 crore belonging to Anamika Majumder, wife of accused serving police officer Dhruba Majumder, and habitual offender Apu Ranjan Das, in connection with an inter-state drug trafficking and money laundering case involving Debabrata Dey, Dhruba Majumder, Apu Ranjan Das, and others.
The investigation stemmed from two FIRs registered by Tripura Police. Panisagar Police Station had registered a case following the seizure of 1,352 kg of dry ganja concealed inside a vehicle cabin, while Mungiakami Police Station had filed a case after the seizure of 14,400 bottles of Phensedyl Cough Linctus containing codeine phosphate in commercial quantity, both being scheduled offenses under the NDPS Act, 1985.
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The ED found that the accused operated an organized inter-state racket for the procurement, transportation, and supply of ganja and codeine-based narcotics across state boundaries. The contraband was hidden inside specially created cavities within commercial vehicles, and Indian Railways was also used as a means of transportation. Proceeds of crime were reportedly deposited as cash in multiple bank accounts held in the names of the accused and their business entities.
Debabrata Dey, a habitual drug trafficker, has been charge-sheeted in two separate NDPS cases. Apu Ranjan Das is a habitual offender against whom non-bailable warrants have been issued for non-appearance before courts. Dhruba Majumder, a serving police officer, allegedly deposited proceeds of crime into his bank accounts and purchased immovable properties registered in his wife’s name.
Government Funds Diverted, Officials Named, Properties Seized
On the same day, the ED’s Itanagar Sub-Zonal Office provisionally attached properties worth approximately Rs 2.37 crore in connection with the Trans-Arunachal Highway (TAH) land acquisition compensation scam on the Potin-Bopi stretch. The Provisional Attachment Order was issued on 23.03.2026 under Section 5(1) of PMLA.
The attached properties include 47,350 sq. mtrs. of land at Dolo Village, Nyapin, in the Kurung Kumey District of Arunachal Pradesh, held in the name of Tadar Babin, and a traditional house at Village Jath, Yachuli, in the District Keyi Panyor, held in the name of Likha Maj, both representing proceeds of crime derived from the fraudulent diversion of government compensation funds.
A fact-finding committee found that excess compensation payments of approximately Rs 44.98 crore were made under the TAH project, causing substantial wrongful loss to the government exchequer. Investigation revealed the involvement of several public servants and private individuals in a well-organized conspiracy.
Kemo Lollen, the then deputy commissioner of Ziro and joint signatory to the compensation account, allegedly authorized fraudulent disbursements. Bharat Lingu, the then district land revenue and settlement officer at Ziro, processed and approved manipulated compensation claims.
Toko Taje, a junior engineer on the Structural Assessment Team, facilitated inflated and fictitious structural assessments, while Toko Tath assisted in the fraudulent inclusion of beneficiaries.
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Kabak Bhatt, another junior engineer, allegedly facilitated diversion and layering of funds through intermediary entities. Likha Maj and Tadar Babin, shown as beneficiaries, received substantial compensation without lawful entitlement and knowingly participated in the routing, withdrawal, and utilization of such funds.
Earlier, on 06.02.2026, the ED had conducted search operations across multiple premises in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, recovering Rs 2.40 Crore in cash from Likha Maj and Rs 22 Lakh from Tadar Babin, besides freezing bank balances of approximately Rs 1.19 Crore and recovering incriminating documents and digital evidence.
Prior to that, funds of approximately Rs 3.95 crore in bank accounts and deposits linked to the accused had also been frozen. The total value of proceeds of crime secured in the TAH case through attachment, seizure and freezing now stands at approximately Rs 10.13 crore.
It is learned that the ED had filed a prosecution complaint on 12.03.2024 before the Special Court (PMLA) at Yupia against Kabak Bhatt, and the court took cognizance of the same on 14.03.2024. Subsequent investigation led to the identification of additional proceeds of crime and further accused persons, resulting in the present attachment.
Further investigation in all three cases is underway.