The East Midnapore district administration recently lodged a police complaint against headmasters of four high schools over alleged cash irregularities in the Taruner Swapna Scheme for students.

The scheme, launched by chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2022, gives ₹10,000 to every student of state-aided schools appearing in the higher secondary exam to buy a smartphone or tablet for digital learning.

A senior official in East Midnapore said the police complaint was filed against the heads of these four high schools after it was found that money had been transferred to the bank accounts of several unauthorised beneficiaries after manipulating the student list.

"The district inspector of schools lodged four complaints, and we have received information that there are at least 10 more schools where similar malpractices occurred. The department has initiated a probe. We will take stern action against those involved in malpractices once the investigation is done," said Purnendu Maji, the East Midnapore district magistrate.

In East Burdwan, the administration found at least 60 such cases where eligible students were deprived and the money meant for them went to other bank accounts.

In Burdwan town, authorities of CMS High School informed the administration that 28 students did not receive Taruner Swapna funds.

"We have received complaints of 60 such beneficiaries who did not receive money. Their allotment was sent to other bank accounts. We are probing the incident and will take action once we receive the report," said Ayesha Rani A., the East Burdwan district magistrate.

Every year, the state government provides ₹10,000 to some 8,00,000 students in Class XII. This year, following Mamata's instructions, the state government announced Class XI students would get the same amount.

Opposition parties said the decision to include Class XI students as beneficiaries was made in the wake of protests by students against the August 9 RG Kar rape and murder of the junior doctor.

A state government source said top officials of the school education department instructed all district inspectors of schools across the state on Wednesday to recheck the lists of Taruner Swapna beneficiaries in their areas and take legal action in case of irregularities.

The decision by the state government to hold headmasters responsible for the irregularities has not gone down well with the teachers' fraternity.

An organisation of headmasters and headmistresses claimed it was unfair to involve headmasters in criminal cases without first determining who was responsible for the skulduggery.