AGARTALA|SEPTEMBER 6,2025|SKY LINK TIMES
A massive financial fraud has rocked Tripura after ₹16.38 crore was siphoned off from the account of the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) using cloned cheques. The scam came to light when UCO Bank’s zonal manager, Sanjib Roy, noticed suspicious withdrawals from the civic body’s account.
The case was officially registered at West Agartala Police Station on Thursday after Roy lodged a complaint.
Fraudsters Forged CEO’s Signature
According to police, the fraudsters forged the signature of AMC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), D. K. Chakma, to withdraw money through six cloned cheques between August and early September. Shockingly, while the forged cheques were encashed, the original cheques remained unused and were still with the municipal authority.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of West Agartala Police Station, Rana Chatterjee, confirmed the development and said the fraudsters are suspected to be operating from Hyderabad.
CCTV Footage Collected
Chatterjee informed the media that investigators have already collected CCTV footage from UCO Bank’s Kaman Chowmuhani branch to identify the people who submitted the forged cheques.
“Once we identify the individuals who deposited the fake cheques, we will get vital clues to move the investigation forward,” Chatterjee said.
Probe Into Financial Security
The incident has sparked serious concerns over banking security and verification mechanisms in Tripura. Financial experts suggest that cloned cheque frauds require insider knowledge or high-level forgery skills, which could point to an organized network.
Meanwhile, AMC officials have assured that they are cooperating fully with the police and the bank to trace the siphoned funds.
Past Cases of Similar Frauds
This is not the first time that cloned cheque fraud has hit Indian institutions. In recent years, similar scams have targeted government departments and corporate accounts, highlighting vulnerabilities in traditional cheque-based transactions.
Investigation Underway
Tripura Police have launched a full-scale probe into the matter. The Economic Offences Wing (EOW) is likely to step in if the case involves interstate fraud. Authorities said they are also in touch with their counterparts in Hyderabad to track down the suspected gang.
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