Scheme for women, Scam by men: 173 men, including illegal infiltrators take benefit of Laskhmir Bhandar, details
Investigations indicate that the 173 men beneficiaries were added to the Lakshmir Bhandar database approximately two months before the Assembly elections
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On Wednesday, June 3, the Nadia district administration in West Bengal identified 173 male beneficiaries in Krishnanagar-II block receiving financial assistance under the erstwhile Mamata Banerjee government's flagship scheme exclusively meant for women, Lakshmir Bhandar. (Lakshmir Bhandar scam)
On May 31, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Krishnanagar-II submitted a report to Nadia District Magistrate Srikanth Palli, identifying 173 male beneficiaries in the Lakshmir Bhandar database, including an employee of Belpukur Gram Panchayat. The report recommended their permanent removal from the scheme and alleged that Bhola Shil, a Trinamool Congress worker from Dhubulia and a computer operator attached to the block’s Lakshmir Bhandar cell, had entered the details of these male beneficiaries into the online system. (Lakshmir Bhandar scam)
Preliminary investigations indicate that the 173 beneficiaries were added to the database approximately two months before the Assembly elections. Since February, financial assistance under the scheme has reportedly been credited to their bank accounts.
The alleged irregularities came to light during the integration of Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiary records with the Annapurna Yojana database. Officials involved in the exercise detected multiple discrepancies, prompting a more detailed investigation. Initial findings revealed that several beneficiary profiles had been created using fictitious female identities, fabricated personal information, and forged Aadhaar numbers. However, the bank accounts linked to these profiles were found to belong to male individuals, raising serious concerns about possible fraud and manipulation of the welfare scheme database.
The Nadia administration has expanded its verification exercise, and similar scrutiny is now underway in other blocks to identify additional ineligible recipients. Beneficiary databases are being cross-verified with other government records. Nadia district magistrate Srikanth Palli confirmed that 173 men receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar dole had been identified and that an inquiry had been launched. "The person in charge of entering the details of these beneficiaries has been showcaused, and more scrutiny is on," Palli said.
"Along with infiltrators and minors, many men are receiving Lakshmir Bhandar benefits. People like Rakibul Sheikh, Tariqur Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman from Murshidabad have been arrested for receiving (Lakshmir Bhandar) benefits despite being men. This is just the tip of the iceberg," Suvendu said. A suspected irregularity in the disbursement of benefits under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has come to light in Harishchandrapur of Malda district, prompting the administration to order an inquiry.
The discovery comes at a time when welfare scheme databases across the state are under heightened scrutiny following concerns raised by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari regarding the presence of ineligible beneficiaries in the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. These reportedly included men, minors, and infiltrators. In response, district administrations throughout West Bengal initiated verification drives, which have already led to several arrests in Murshidabad and Malda. (Lakshmir Bhandar scam)
On May 31, the Block Development Officer (BDO) of Krishnanagar-II submitted a report to Nadia District Magistrate Srikanth Palli, identifying 173 male beneficiaries in the Lakshmir Bhandar database, including an employee of Belpukur Gram Panchayat. The report recommended their permanent removal from the scheme and alleged that Bhola Shil, a Trinamool Congress worker from Dhubulia and a computer operator attached to the block’s Lakshmir Bhandar cell, had entered the details of these male beneficiaries into the online system. (Lakshmir Bhandar scam)
Shil has since been served a show-cause notice, and an administrative inquiry has been launched against him. He is currently untraceable. His mother, Manju Shil, defended him, claiming that he was being targeted because of his association with the Trinamool Congress. “I do not believe my son has done anything wrong,” she said.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the 173 beneficiaries were added to the database approximately two months before the Assembly elections. Since February, financial assistance under the scheme has reportedly been credited to their bank accounts.
The alleged irregularities came to light during the integration of Lakshmir Bhandar beneficiary records with the Annapurna Yojana database. Officials involved in the exercise detected multiple discrepancies, prompting a more detailed investigation. Initial findings revealed that several beneficiary profiles had been created using fictitious female identities, fabricated personal information, and forged Aadhaar numbers. However, the bank accounts linked to these profiles were found to belong to male individuals, raising serious concerns about possible fraud and manipulation of the welfare scheme database.
Several images of the fake approval under the scheme are making rounds on social media. In one of the viral Lakshmir Bhandar forms, a man can be seen draped in a saree in a passport-size photo attached to the form.
These are the prime beneficiaries of the Laxmi Bhandar Scheme under Mamata Banerjee.
— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) June 2, 2026
The scheme was meant for poor women but it was going to TMC's special vote bank. pic.twitter.com/NYKLpqsSiC
Diparnab Karmakar, the employee of Belpukur gram panchayat and one of the identified male beneficiaries, admitted that money under the scheme had been credited to his account, but denied any wrongdoing. "Since my bank details were available with the block administration, it is quite possible that someone misused them. Once the money was credited to my account, I informed the administration about the matter," he claimed.
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The Nadia administration has expanded its verification exercise, and similar scrutiny is now underway in other blocks to identify additional ineligible recipients. Beneficiary databases are being cross-verified with other government records. Nadia district magistrate Srikanth Palli confirmed that 173 men receiving the Lakshmir Bhandar dole had been identified and that an inquiry had been launched. "The person in charge of entering the details of these beneficiaries has been showcaused, and more scrutiny is on," Palli said.
The chief minister has claimed that nearly 3,000 men could be receiving Lakshmir Bhandar benefits in the Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad district alone. Suvendu has directed the DGP to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged fraud. He also indicated that cases involving large-scale financial irregularities could attract provisions relating to money laundering.
TMC spent years showcasing Lakshmir Bhandar as the crown jewel of its welfare politics. Now, reports of 173 male beneficiaries in Dhubulia alone and potentially hundreds more across Nadia are exposing the cracks behind the propaganda.
— BJP West Bengal (@BJP4Bengal) June 2, 2026
A scheme meant exclusively for women… pic.twitter.com/OMZf79VpSf
"Along with infiltrators and minors, many men are receiving Lakshmir Bhandar benefits. People like Rakibul Sheikh, Tariqur Rahman and Mustafizur Rahman from Murshidabad have been arrested for receiving (Lakshmir Bhandar) benefits despite being men. This is just the tip of the iceberg," Suvendu said. A suspected irregularity in the disbursement of benefits under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has come to light in Harishchandrapur of Malda district, prompting the administration to order an inquiry.