The South 24-Parganas district administration has filed an FIR against three Trinamool Congress leaders and 22 others for allegedly stealing funds meant for the rural housing scheme by altering the bank account details of rightful beneficiaries.
Last week, Mathurapur-II block development officer (BDO) Nazir Hossain lodged an FIR with Raidighi police against 25 individuals, including Mustafa Koyal, a Trinamool booth committee president, Mobezul Gazi, the husband of the former Nagendrapur gram panchayat's pradhan, and Khaleque Gazi, the woman’s father-in-law. Mobezul and Khaleque are also local TMC leaders.
A probe, conducted by the district administration following a Calcutta High Court directive, uncovered significant fraud in the allocation of funds.
Under the Awas Yojana, eligible beneficiaries are entitled to ₹1.2 lakh to build their homes. The amount is disbursed in three installments.
The investigation revealed that funds meant for eligible beneficiaries were redirected to other accounts by tampering with the bank account details or adding fake beneficiaries to the list.
Investigators found that during the 2021-22 financial year, 27 individuals used political influence to divert funds meant for beneficiaries.
“The actual beneficiaries, despite being allotted funds, did not receive the money. In most cases, account numbers and other details were altered, and in others, funds were disbursed to fake beneficiaries. We identified the bank account holders and physically verified the individuals,” said Hossain.
Notices had been issued to 27 persons in November 2022 to return ₹1.2 lakh each within 15 days, but two had complied.
"Repeated notices failed to recover the misappropriated government money, leaving us with no choice but to lodge an FIR against 25 persons,” Hossain added.
Contacted, Trinamool MLA from Raidighi Alok Jaldata said: "Our party does not shield anyone involved in corruption. However, the role of government employees must also be investigated, as such misdeeds are impossible without their involvement."
Reports of widespread corruption under the scheme surfaced during a fresh survey in October this year, prompting chief minister Mamata Banerjee to promise that eligible beneficiaries would not be excluded.
On October 30, chief secretary Manoj Pant asked district officials to do a survey with a “humane touch” to minimise grievances.
The Centre stopped releasing its share of funds meant for the PM Awas Yojana to Bengal in 2022, citing misappropriation of funds. To counter this, the state government decided to shoulder the entire burden.
