The Tripura government has taken a significant step towards providing justice to victims of financial fraud by launching a formal scheme to refund money to individuals who were duped by chit fund companies. The scheme, which has now been officially notified in the state gazette, was presented before the High Court of Tripura during a hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) on Tuesday.
In response to directives from the High Court, the government has confirmed that over Rs 10.78 crore has been recovered through the auctioning of assets seized from fraudulent chit fund companies. Amicus curiae Purusottam Roy Burman emphasized the importance of widely publicizing the scheme in both Bengali and Kokborok languages to ensure that victims from all communities are informed.
Advocate General Shaktimoy Chakraborty assured the court that the government is committed to disseminating information about the scheme through four prominent local newspapers, including a major vernacular daily. Victims are required to apply to their respective sub-divisional magistrates (SDMs) with necessary documents such as Aadhaar cards, bank passbooks, and proof of investment to claim their refunds.
In cases where the original depositor has passed away, legal heirs can apply for a refund by submitting the death certificate, PAN and Aadhaar cards, bank details, and other relevant documents. The High Court, led by Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice M B Purakayastha, has directed the state to ensure proper dissemination of the scheme to all eligible depositors.
The next hearing on the matter is scheduled for August 8, and many victims have urged the state to identify and liquidate the remaining assets of defaulting companies to enable full compensation. This initiative is a significant milestone in Tripura’s efforts to combat financial crimes and is expected to bring relief to thousands of small investors who lost their money in fraudulent deposit schemes.
