West Bengal CM asks fake housing beneficiaries to return money, promises CID probe

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. File | Photo credit: ANI

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday (Nov 13, 2026) claimed that around 57,000 bogus beneficiaries had fraudulently applied for the Banglar Bari Rural Housing Scheme, out of which 12,000 such beneficiaries had received government funds during the previous Trinamool Congress government.

About 1,000 beneficiaries have returned money fraudulently obtained by the government and the remaining 11,000 ineligible beneficiaries have until November 30 to return the government funds or face legal action, Mr Adhikari said.

“We want to set up a SIT (Special Investigation Team) and let the CID investigate the matter. If there is any malpractice at the official level, action will be taken,” Mr Adhikari said at an event at the State Secretariat where the West Bengal government transferred ₹ 4,201 crore as the second installment of housing assistance to over 7.17 crore beneficiaries across the state.

Mr. Adhikari sought to assure the people of the state that his government would continue to support the genuine beneficiaries whose houses remained incomplete, irrespective of political affiliation, caste or religion.

“The previous government had claimed that the second installment would not be paid if there was a change of government. We have shown that this was wrong,” the CM said. “We do not discriminate on the basis of political affiliation, caste or community. We want those whose houses remain incomplete to be able to complete them,” he said.

The scheme to provide housing for the rural poor was named Banglar Bari by the former Trinamool Congress government. After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government came to power in the state, the scheme was renamed as Paschim Banga Awas scheme.

The Suvendu Adhikari government had earlier on August 6 released about ₹6,122 crore to 10,20,379 beneficiaries as part of the second installment in the process.

The chief minister has repeatedly alleged that there were irregularities in welfare schemes during the Trinamool Congress rule and made similar claims about the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme where funds for schemes meant for women were even allegedly transferred to men.

Speaking at an event at the State Secretariat, Mr Adhikari said the housing assistance would be complemented by convergence with other schemes including ₹12,000 for construction of toilets under the Swachh Bharat Mission and employment-related assistance of ₹30,000 through VB-G RAM G.

The Chief Minister has asked District Magistrates and Block Development Officers to link housing beneficiaries to the PM Surya Ghar Rooftop Solar Scheme, under which eligible households can receive subsidies of up to ₹78,000, besides an additional state assistance of ₹15,000 for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries.

Published – 13 Nov 2026 15:55 IST