West Bengal to launch probe into TMC’s all-women Lakshmir Bhandar scheme for prosecuting fake beneficiaries, including men posing as women

By The Slate Bureau

Kolkata, Jun 2: The Suvendu Adhikari-government in West Bengal has directed constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to enquire into enrolment of fake beneficiaries under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme launched by the TMC government for financial support to female heads of households.

The scheme has been drawing eyeballs as around 30 lakh of the 2.2 crore beneficiaries are expected to be fake, with about 173 male names being found in the list of beneficiaries in a particular area in Nadia district alone. The scheme envisaged direct bank transfers of ₹ 1,200 for SC/ST households and ₹ 1,000 for General/Other categories.

Representative Image (Source: X)

“At least 173 names of male persons were detected in the Lakshmir Bhandar list in the Dhubulia area of Nadia district; the names have been deleted, and an investigation has been initiated," the district administration told PTI.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that he had asked the state police chief to form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the issue of alleged fake beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

He said that around 30 lakh of the 2.2 crore Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiaries are fake. A money laundering probe will also be conducted into the matter as it involves illegal cash transfers, Adhikari said.

The chief minister also said it has been found that men had availed financial assistance under the scheme specifically meant for women during the TMC's rule.