A retired senior official from the Tripura government, Kaizar Debbarma, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a land scam with a Noida-based educational institution, officials confirmed on Wednesday. Kaizar, who served as the former additional director of the Industries and Commerce Department in Tripura, was apprehended at his home in Krishnanagar, Agartala.
The police presented Kaizar in court on Wednesday, seeking seven days of police custody, but the court granted only three days of remand.
Kaizar, along with five others, is accused of cheating Noida-based World Education Mission (WEM), a private educational institution, by illegally transferring 48.52 acres of land in the Bodhjungnagar industrial estate in West Tripura. The fraudulent land transfer was allegedly supported by fake documents.
The scam came to light after WEM’s Director, Himangshu Panchal, filed an FIR in July 2023, claiming that he had paid Rs 1.25 crore for the land. The investigation revealed that this amount had been credited to the accounts of the five accused, although no payment trail was found linking Kaizar to the transaction. This raised suspicions that Kaizar may have been actively involved in the illegal deal behind the scenes.
Kaizar had reportedly introduced the five accused to the WEM Director and played a significant role in facilitating the transaction. Having retired a year ago, Kaizar was an influential figure in the Industries and Commerce Department, which oversees the Bodhjungnagar industrial estate, located 12 km north of Agartala.
The investigation continues as police explore Kaizar’s involvement in this large-scale fraud.
