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Journalism of Courage
In focus
From the outside, this single-storey rectangular structure in Noida’s Sector 70 looked inconspicuous — with its metal gate, cracked concrete floor, a tree growing in the yard, and a few struggling shrubs out front.
On Monday, when The Indian Express visited the spot, the board was gone. It had been removed after actual police officers uncovered the truth — that this ‘transnational crime investigation bureau’ was not genuine but a front for six men from West Bengal to con people.
All six — former Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Bibhas Chandra Adhikari, his son Arghya, Babul Chandra Mandal, Pintu Pal, Samapadmal, and Ashish Kumar — were arrested by the Noida Police.
According to the police, the move was part of an attempt to expand a long-running and elaborate scam by the group, which had allegedly been impersonating international law enforcement and human rights agencies to extort money by intimidating its targets.
The con
At the heart of fake bureau, investigators said, is Adhikari, who hails from West Bengal’s Birbhum.
A police raid at the premises on Saturday night uncovered forged documents, seals, and websites designed to project global reach — fake overseas office claims, including one in the UK, claims of affiliation with Interpol, the International Human Rights Commission, “Eurasia Pol” and “Asia Pol.”
By boasting “international recognition”, police said Adhikari’s outfit was conning people by inviting online “donations” through two websites. One was operated by Adhikari himself, said police. A ‘sister outfit’, the National Bureau of Social Investigation & Social Justice (NBSISJ), was being operated by his son Arghya, which was used to bolster credibility by displaying genuine-looking social justice content and claiming that it was affiliated to his father’s International Police Bureau, police said.
They added that Arghya used to pose as the “National Secretary General” of the NBSISJ.
Police said both fake outfits were being used to send out summons-like letters related to property and construction disputes. These letters were written in court language and signed by self-styled “Deputy Secretaries” and “Chief Advisors.” Some of them claimed to have ties to retired High Court judges, police said.
The letters included seals, case numbers, and ordered recipients to appear before the NBSISJ for “hearings”. They also threatened further action if the recipients failed to comply.
During the raid, the Noida Police also recovered certificates bearing the names of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Ayush, and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, fake press cards and “human rights commission” IDs, and rubber seals.
The Adhikari connection
Police said the Noida ‘office’ was opened only recently — it had been running for four days before it was busted.
Police said the accused had leased the building on June 4 for the purpose of expanding from West Bengal, where a similar fake office was found operating in Beleghata.
In Kolkata, police said, the accused had also rented two flats on CIT Road for the same purpose. The flats had two boards, one of which said ‘Investigation of Social Justice’, another said ‘Interpol’, added police.
The ‘employees’ used to commute to the office regularly, police said. Adhikari would reportedly arrive at the Kolkata office in a car with a blue beacon and four armed security guards.
Known for his substantial financial assets, Adhikari owns four colleges — including an Ayurvedic college in Suri and a B.Ed college running from the premises of a large house in Krishnapur, which recently lost government approval.
He also owns an Ashram called Satsang Mission Sadhanpith in Nalhati, runs multiple pharmaceutical ventures, and owns houses in Kolkata and Delhi.
He served as the TMC’s block president from Nalhati in Birbhum until he was removed after the 2021 West Bengal elections.
Adhikari is no stranger to investigators. He has faced repeated CBI scrutiny for his alleged involvement in teacher recruitment scams and the misuse of educational institutions for financial gain.
In October 2022, his Kolkata house was sealed in an alleged money laundering case linked to his teacher-training college network following ED action.
In April 2023, Adhikari was questioned by the CBI for his alleged involvement in a teachers’ recruitment scam after investigators found important documents related to ‘irregularities’ in recruitment processes during a search at his ashram and residence.
The same month, he had announced the creation of a new political party — All India Arya Mahasabha. As per sources, he was even considered close to jailed former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
More recently, in March this year, he had been booked at Rampurhat police station for allegedly moving around with “Interpol Police” boards on vehicles.
Despite being ousted from the party, he was seen sharing the stage with top TMC leaders in Birbhum in 2024.
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