West Bengal Orders Refund From 12,000 Fake Housing Beneficiaries

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that 12,000 fake beneficiaries who took housing money fraudulently under the previous TMC regime must return the funds or face legal action. Chief Secretary Manoj Agarwal stated that 57,000 fake applicants tried to get funds through the Banglar Bari project and were removed from the list, with authorities tracking down the 12,000 who already received payouts. So far, 1,000 people have given the money back, while the rest face strict consequences.

Investigation and Corruption Probe

A Special Investigation Team led by a retired judge will now look into the institutional corruption that happened under the old government. Officials who helped people get this money illegally will also be identified, and a separate Crime Investigation Department probe will follow. Mr. Adhikari blamed the past government for playing politics with rural housing for the poor.

New Housing and Schemes

Despite past political disputes over the Banglar Bari project, the government has started disbursing money in the first phase without any discrimination based on politics, caste, or community. A total of 7,171 extra rural beneficiaries will get funds in the second phase of the Mukhyamantri Awas Yojana, bringing total project spending to ₹4,200 crore. The state also received 1.1 lakh units under the PM Surya Ghar rooftop solar scheme, and plans to hire about 8,000 workers in the panchayat department after cabinet approval.

Context

Housing schemes for rural populations are major welfare programs managed jointly or funded heavily by state and central authorities to provide basic shelter. Audits and background checks are frequently used by governments to catch illegal applicants who slip through the system. State welfare projects often face political disputes regarding fund distribution and beneficiary selection.