ED Registers FIR Against Tripura Government Official for Alleged Fraudulent Tender Scam

The FIR was registered on the complaint of SK Sales Corporation, a Nagpur-based firm. It accuses Abhishek Chandra, IAS (Tripura Cadre) and his accomplices of fraudulently depositing an'Earnest Money Deposit'of about ₹14.55 crore from this firm. The amount was taken in the name of alleged tenders related to the mid-day meal and power sector of the Tripura government between September 2024 and February 2025, when in fact no such tenders were ever floated. The advertisement is registered under Sections 61 (2), 316, 318 (4), 319 (2), 336 (3), 338, 340 (2) and 341 (2) of the Indian Penal Code, 2023. These offences - which include criminal conspiracy, breach of trust, cheating, impersonation and forgery - are considered'scheduled offences'under PMLA 2002. On the basis of this, the ED has registered an FIR under the ECIR and the PMLA, suspending Abhishek Chandra, IAS (Tripura Government), who is handling the tender process.