Shantipur family receives widow pension instead of Lakshmir Bhandar, TMC leader accused of fraud

A case of misallocated government funds has emerged in Shantipur, Nadia, where a local family mistakenly received widow pension funds instead of the intended Lakshmir Bhandar financial assistance. Shefali Dey, a resident of Bishwasukh Palli in Shantipur, had applied for the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme two years ago, hoping to receive the state-sponsored financial aid for women in need. However, despite the application, Shefali did not receive any confirmation or aid under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Instead, her account began receiving regular monthly deposits, which she initially believed to be the expected financial aid.

Upon further investigation, Shefali discovered that the funds deposited into her account were not from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme but from the widow pension fund, which provides financial assistance to women whose husbands are deceased. Shefali’s husband, Paresh Dey, is alive, leading to confusion regarding the source of the funds. The deposits continued for 24 months, with Shefali unaware that the payments were incorrectly processed under the widow pension scheme.

Shefali claims that Uttam Halder, the then-booth president of the local Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, played a role in the application process. According to Shefali, Halder took 1,000 rupees from her, assuring her that the Lakshmir Bhandar application would be processed successfully. She was informed by a local State Bank of India kiosk that an account had been opened in her name, although she did not receive a passbook. Despite the lack of a passbook, Shefali noticed that funds were being deposited into the account monthly. Over time, the amount accumulated, with Shefali withdrawing funds without realizing that they were part of the widow pension rather than the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme.

The issue came to light when local police conducted an investigation, checking the bank statements of Shefali’s account. The review revealed that the payments were not from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme but from the widow pension program. Upon this discovery, the authorities seized all of Shefali’s relevant documents, including her bank and identification paperwork, and demanded the return of 24,000 rupees received over the past 24 months.

The Block Development Officer (BDO) has been involved in reviewing the case and the relevant documents to understand the discrepancy. The authorities are investigating how the widow pension funds were allocated to Shefali’s account without the required death certificate or other documentation to justify the distribution. While Shefali and her family are facing legal repercussions for receiving the incorrect funds, Uttam Halder, who is accused of facilitating the improper allocation, has reportedly gone into hiding. The case is under further investigation, and legal actions are expected to follow. The family is now under financial and legal scrutiny, with authorities considering the return of the funds and any additional consequences.