An association of headmasters and headmistresses on Saturday added a new dimension to the ongoing "tab money" row, hinting at the role of education department staff who have access to the state government portal to modify the student database.

In a letter to state education secretary Binod Kumar, the Advanced Society for Headmasters and Headmistresses stated that education department staff at both state and district levels, including those in the school inspectors' offices, had access to modify student details, including bank information.

"In July this year, we observed manipulation and unauthorised entries to students' database on the Banglar Siksha Portal and reported it to the district inspector of schools concerned. All these manipulations, which occurred across various districts, were done in the Banglar Siksha Portal database, where student information is stored and which many education department staff can access," said Chandan Maiti, the association’s general secretary.

"It is not only the headmasters; there is a real possibility that the manipulation could be done by the education department staff. Instead of conducting a thorough investigation, the government focused on holding only the headmasters accountable. In our letter, we requested the education secretary to address the vulnerability of the Banglar Siksha Portal," he added.

The issue of irregularities in the Taruner Swapna scheme, which provides ₹10,000 to students appearing for higher secondary exams to purchase a smartphone or tablet for digital learning, surfaced after the East Midnapore district administration filed a police complaint against headmasters of four high schools.

The allegation against them was the funds had gone to unknown accounts instead of bank accounts of at least 60 bona fide students.

Similar complaints have emerged from districts like East Burdwan, North 24-Parganas and Malda. Amid these reports, the education department instructed district officials to reverify the Taruner Swapna beneficiary list and take legal action if any manipulation is detected.

"This year, Class XI students were also made beneficiaries along with Class XII students, and the state allocated around ₹1600 crore under this scheme. It is crucial to identify those involved in misappropriations," said a senior state government official.