Kolkata, May 28, 2026 – In a shocking revelation that has sent shockwaves through West Bengal's political landscape, male Trinamool Congress leaders were found fraudulently registering themselves as beneficiaries of Lakshmir Bhandar, the state's flagship women's welfare scheme, and pocketing Rs 10.03 crore meant for eligible women across the state.

Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, heading the newly formed BJP government, announced during the first cabinet meeting that investigations have uncovered massive fraud within the Lakshmir Bhandar system. The scam involved Rs 10.03 crore disbursed to beneficiaries registered using government employee user IDs, indicating systematic infiltration of the scheme's administrative infrastructure.

The fraud came to light when authorities discovered that male TMC leaders had somehow registered themselves as women beneficiaries, defying the scheme's fundamental eligibility criteria that restricts benefits exclusively to women from eligible households.

CM Suvendu Adhikari revealed that nearly 30 lakh ineligible people were receiving cash benefits under Mamata Banerjee's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme when the BJP took power in May 2026. These bogus beneficiaries, including non-Indians, had been systematically weeded out through rigorous verification processes before the launch of the new Annapurna Bhandar scheme.

The verification exercise uncovered that many beneficiaries did not meet the scheme's eligibility criteria, with some even being foreign nationals fraudulently registered in the system.

In response to the widespread corruption, the BJP government announced the rollout of the proposed Annapurna Bhandar scheme starting from June 1, replacing the earlier Lakshmir Bhandar system. Under this new women's welfare initiative, eligible women will receive Rs 3,000 per month directly into their bank accounts, a significant increase from the previous amounts.

The administrative decisions were taken during the first cabinet meeting of the newly formed BJP government in the state, demonstrating the new administration's commitment to transparency and accountability in welfare delivery.

Scheme Comparison: Lakshmir Bhandar vs Annapurna Bhandar

Aspect	Lakshmir Bhandar (AITC)	Annapurna Bhandar (BJP)
General Category	Rs 1,500 per month	Rs 3,000 per month
SC/ST Households	Rs 1,700 per month	Rs 3,000 per month
Launch Date	Mamata Banerjee era	June 1, 2026
Fraud Cases	Rs 10.03 crore proven	Under verification

The earlier Lakshmir Bhandar scheme introduced by the All India Trinamool Congress government had provided women from the general category with Rs 1,500 per month, while SC/ST households received Rs 1,700 per month.

While other TMC leaders involved in the scam were arrested, investigations into the primary accused's involvement stalled after he joined the BJP, leading to political controversy over the handling of the fraud case. The chief minister's revelation that male leaders were pocketing women's welfare money has intensified political pressure on the former Trinamool government.

CM Suvendu Adhikari's announcement has sparked intense political debate, with the BJP accusing the former Trinamool government of systematic corruption in women welfare schemes. The revelation that male TMC leaders were involved in fraudulently accessing women's scheme funds has further damaged the credibility of the Mamata Banerjee administration.

The fraud exposed critical vulnerabilities in the scheme's implementation, including system infiltration through government employee user IDs and inadequate verification processes that allowed non-Indians to register as beneficiaries.

The BJP government has pledged to expand women welfare schemes while ensuring complete transparency. CM Adhikari's government has committed to bringing West Bengal under the Centre's Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, effectively implementing it in the state for the first time.

The lakshmir Bhandar fraud case represents one of the largest welfare scams uncovered in West Bengal's recent political history, with the new government emphasizing its dedication to ensuring that women's welfare funds reach the intended beneficiaries without diversion or corruption.