The head of a Trinamool-run panchayat in North Dinajpur on Tuesday handed over the money that she had taken as “cut money” from around 200 people to enroll their names under the rural housing scheme.

Such a refund of money has led to a loss of face for Mamata Banerjee’s party at a time it is already under siege across the state over alleged mishandling of the RG Kar rape and murder.

District leaders, however, have maintained that the Noori Begum, the pradhan, has been “expelled” from the party.

Sources said on Tuesday that around 200 people assembled at the Kamalagaon-Sujali panchayat office in Islampur subdivision of North Dinajpur district.

The Kamalagaon Sujali panchayat office in Islampur subdivision of North Dinajpur where the pradhan handed over money to people on Tuesday.

“The pradhan has taken ₹10,500 each from many of us while promising us financial assistance under the Awas Yojana scheme so that we can build our houses. But we didn’t get the assistance. As time went by, we asked her to return the cut money she had taken from us. Today (on Tuesday), she told us to visit the panchayat office and get our money back,” said Md Hasir, one of the villagers.

As the villagers gathered at the office, Begum, in the presence of some police personnel, refunded the money to around 200 of them in cash.

Sources said Abdul Haque, Begum’s husband, was the Trinamool president of the local panchayat.

As the party was dissatisfied with his performance, Haque was replaced by another local Trinamool leader, Abdus Sattar.

“This led to an infighting between Haque and Sattar. Therefore now, Sattar is actively ferreting out the malpractices done by Haque and his wife Noori Begum,” said
a source.

While a section of villagers returned from the panchayat office with cash, some others resorted to protests alleging that Begum had taken money from almost each of the 1,300 families that dwell in the panchayat area.

As the protests continued, Begum was taken out of the office in a police vehicle.

Eventually, the protesters dispersed.

Begum, however, denied the charges. “Those who were in charge before me took the money. I did not take any money from anyone. But I have to handle the anger of the people. This is why we refunded the money to some people today,” she said.

District Trinamool leaders said Begum and her husband were involved in corruption.

“That is why we have already expelled her from the party. But according to the panchayat rules, we cannot remove her from the pradhan’s post unless she spends at least two-and-a-half years in the post. Once the tenure is complete, we will remove her,” said Kanaialal Agarwala, the TMC district chief.