Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has threatened a CID investigation into alleged irregularities in the state's rural housing project.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Friday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) may be formed to probe 57,000 fake beneficiaries of the state's housing scheme. According to The Economic Times, the alleged illegal applications occurred during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government's tenure under the 'Banglar Bari' project.
Adhikari stated that officials have identified 12,000 recipients who allegedly received funds fraudulently. While 1,000 people have already returned the money, the Chief Minister has set a November 30 deadline for the remaining 11,000 to refund the amount or face legal action.
The Chief Minister also warned that officials who recommended or cleared the names of these ineligible applicants could face departmental action. He said the government intends to investigate institutional corruption and identify those responsible for lapses in the verification process.
The announcement coincided with the release of a second instalment of housing assistance to 7.17 lakh beneficiaries. The Indian Express reported that the state has cumulatively released Rs 10,323 crore during the current phase of the second instalment to more than 17 lakh families.
Adhikari accused the previous administration of politicising the rural housing scheme. He noted that a committee led by retired judge Biswajit Basu has been formed to investigate corruption and financial leakages within the scheme.
