A recent audit by the state government into the 2020 Cyclone Amphan dole disbursements resulted on Wednesday in the issuance of return orders to 1,400 wrongful beneficiaries across 17 blocks of East Midnapore.

Of these, 380 persons are reportedly residents of Nandigram, which in June and July last year had become the epicentre of dole-related malfeasance, much of which was traced back to grassroots level Trinamul workers.

"The phenomenon was unfortunately widespread across this district, with several average citizens as well as politically-connected ones claiming doles in poor faith. Only eight of 25 blocks were spared," said a district official, explaining that postal orders had gone out starting this week mandating that wrongful doles be returned by December 15.

"Else, those who do not return the money will be named in FIR(s)," the official added.

District officials said state secretariat Nabanna had asked for files relating to dole disbursement last month, in connection with the uproar that had been caused last year when it was learned that Trinamul-connected panchayat officials had been propagating wrongful dole claims, which at the time were Rs. 20,000 for a fully-damaged home and Rs. 5,000 for a partially-damaged one.

Sources said several people had claimed wrongful doles -- in the absence of real damages -- either against their own name whereas others had claimed subsequent damages against names of family members.

In July 2020, 200 Trinamul panchayat members in Nandigram-I and II, including five chiefs, had been show caused in this connection after their names were found to have been on a reimbursement list.

The incident has embarrassed the ruling Trinamul. Vice-president of Nandigram panchayat samity and block Trinamul leader Abu Taher admitted that there had been irregularities in claiming and distribution of doles.

“There have been a lot of irregularities in Nandigram. While drawing up the list of beneficiaries, errors at the panchayat level led to people whose houses had not been damaged getting doles. Among such illegal claimants are several people who are leaders and supporters. After the party cracked the whip, many of them had returned the money,” Taher said.

Asked if there were Trinamul members who had claimed the dole twice, Taher said: “We have asked such people to return the money. If they don’t, the administration has been asked to take necessary action against them.”

In September 2020, the district administration had named two persons in FIRs claiming they had not returned wrongful doles. The duo, however, were not prosecuted and had claimed at the time that they had returned the money. There were 498 other civilians at the time who reportedly went unprosecuted for the same offence.

“Over Rs 300 crore had been disbursed by the state coffers in May for the victims of actual damage, but so much money went into the wrong hands,” said a surveying official this week.

“Rs 1 crore was made in return collections as of last year, in this district. Nabanna has made it clear this figure will have to go up following the most recent notices,” they added.

Asked, district magistrate Purnendu Majhi concurred that several dubious dole recipients remained at large in the district.

"We have issued them due notices. If they do not respond and act, legal action will follow," he said.