Sri Vijaya Puram: The investigation into the multi-crore Andaman and Nicobar State Cooperative Bank (ANSCB) case has intensified, with the Crime and Economic Offence Police Station of the CID filing a voluminous chargesheet and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) making the first arrests under money laundering provisions in the Islands. Together, these developments have placed the spotlight on what investigators describe as one of the largest financial irregularities in the Union Territory’s history.
On September 19, the CID filed a chargesheet running over 50,000 pages before the Hon’ble Court, naming 100 persons and firms. Among those listed are former Member of Parliament and ex-ANSCB Chairman Kuldeep Rai Sharma, former Managing Director K. Murugan and Loan Officer K. Kalaivanan. Eight of the accused, including senior bank officials and directors of companies described as shells by investigators, have so far been arrested and remain in judicial custody.
The chargesheet alleges a systematic conspiracy at senior levels of the bank’s management. According to investigators, certain officials and associated individuals are accused of misusing their positions to sanction overdraft and high-value loans in violation of Credit Management Assessment norms, NABARD and RBI guidelines, and the bank’s own lending policies. The CID has stated before the court that these alleged violations were not accidental lapses but deliberate acts designed to benefit companies and individuals.
The list of individuals named in the chargesheet includes Babul Halder, Tarun Mondal, Ajay Minj, K. Murugan, K. Kalaivanan, Mohammed Sajid, K. Subramanian, Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Gopal Mondal, Sanjeev Lall, Madhav Haldar, Jaganath Halder, Tapas Mondal, Souren Kundu, M. Lakshmanan, T. Rajeshwari, S. Suraj, Prasanta Das, Subrato Biswas, Somen Chel, Bani Halder, Chandana Roy, Ramen Mondal, Shyamol Halder, Ugal Ekka, Biswajit Dutta, Kanika Mondal, Sushana Minj, Reshma Begam, Kamal Halder, Samrat Halder, Benedick Lakra, Mariyam Bibi, Barun Mondal, Sankar Roy, Santana Halder, Geeta Sheel, Husnara Khatun, Salma, Gaurav Singh, Karan Singh, Sailen Shil, Raghubir Singh, Binoy Krishna Roy, V.K. Nazma Siddique, Najib Siddique, A.P. Athicka, Rithi Singh, S. Gobina Manimala, Bijli Bala, Jayanto Bala, Anand Kumar, Ashu Ranjan Mondal, Umasankar Majumder, Anar Ali Fakir, J. Suresh Chandra, Vinita Sharma, Shyam Lal, John of Nicobar, A. Varalaxmi, Arun Sarkar, Agni Kanta Howlader, Shyamal Kumar Haldar, Amal Samaddar and Smti Desamma.
The companies included in the chargesheet are Blair Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Foxy Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Craftopia Traders Pvt. Ltd., Atikaya Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Bodhik Villa Beach Resort Pvt. Ltd., Asha Arya Traders & Travels Pvt. Ltd., Amman Aryan General Store Pvt. Ltd., AKV Traders & Tours Pvt. Ltd., Vertigo Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Nord Trading Pvt. Ltd., Andaman Island Trading Pvt. Ltd., Blue Kite Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Heyday Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., Andaman Mormon Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Bountry Basket Trading and Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Dugong Adventure Pvt. Ltd., Andaman Delight Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd., Protrade Enterprises Pvt. Ltd., Andaman Tripee Adventure Pvt. Ltd., Get N Go Stores Pvt. Ltd., Vasuki Import & Export Pvt. Ltd. and Ingredient Island Transport Pvt. Ltd.
According to the CID, the case involves 23 firms with no substantive business activity, created for the purpose of availing loans and diverting funds. Investigators have stated that the loans routed through these entities alone are estimated at ₹316.5 crore. Seized evidence includes 91 loan files, 19 mortgage and loan registers, 16 board registers, hundreds of cheques and deposit slips, and electronic devices containing recorded conversations. A forensic audit was carried out with the assistance of NABARD, the Registrar of Cooperative Societies and experts from nationalised banks to trace fund flows and identify beneficiaries.
The chargesheet also details how real estate brokers and hoteliers were central to the scam. Prominent names include Babul Halder, Tarun Mondal, Gopal Mondal and the Halder family from Badmas Pahad, alongside hoteliers like Sanjeev Lall of SL International Hotel, the Bala family of Joye Grand Hotel at Swaraj Dweep, and Ajay Minj, linked to Andaman Tripee Adventure Pvt. Ltd. In many cases, family members, spouses and even hotel staff like waiters were made directors of private limited firms with claimed turnovers running into crores, strongly suggesting the widespread use of dummy directors.
The Enforcement Directorate is pursuing a parallel investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Several arrests have already taken place, and further proceedings will continue before the court. All those named in the chargesheet remain accused and the matter is sub judice.
