West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Friday, November 14, 2026, a comprehensive Criminal Investigation Department (CID) probe into alleged irregularities within the state’s rural housing schemes. The investigation targets approximately 57,000 suspected fictitious beneficiaries, whose existence could not be verified through field inspections.
Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna, Chief Minister Adhikari issued a stern warning to ineligible recipients of the housing funds. He set a deadline of November 30 for these individuals to return any money received in violation of eligibility norms. “You must return the money by November 30 and spare yourselves possible legal complications,” Adhikari stated, emphasizing that the government would take strict action against those involved in the misuse of public funds.
The irregularities primarily concern the 'Banglar Bari' housing project, launched by the previous administration. Around 12,000 ineligible beneficiaries have been identified under this scheme. While approximately 1,000 individuals have already repaid the amounts, the remaining are now mandated to do so by the end of November.
CID Probe Targets Fictitious Beneficiaries
The CID investigation will be supervised by a Special Investigation Team (SIT). Its mandate includes examining the transfer of ₹60,000 to each questionable account, identifying individuals who recommended these beneficiaries, and scrutinizing officials suspected of facilitating the alleged fraud. Allegations suggest that fraudulent bank accounts were opened using the names of deceased or relocated individuals to divert government assistance.
In a related move to combat corruption, the state has reactivated its Anti-Corruption Branch and constituted a committee led by retired judge Biswajit Basu. This committee is tasked with examining instances of corruption and the broader misuse of public funds across various state initiatives.
West Bengal Awas Scheme Disbursements Continue
Meanwhile, the state continues to disburse funds under the renamed 'West Bengal Awas' scheme, formerly known as Banglar Bari. On Friday, ₹4,201.026 crore was transferred via RTGS to 7,00,171 beneficiaries as the second installment. The total disbursements under this second phase have now reached ₹10,323 crore, benefiting approximately 17.21 lakh eligible households. Each qualifying household is entitled to ₹60,000 for house construction. The first phase of disbursements was completed on August 6, assisting around 10.20 lakh people.
Additional Support and Future Plans
Chief Minister Adhikari has also directed district magistrates to closely monitor the prices of construction materials, specifically bricks and sand, to prevent overcharging. Officials are instructed to ensure that sand remains available at prices not exceeding ₹1,200.
Furthermore, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Dilip Ghosh highlighted additional financial assistance available to beneficiaries. They can receive an extra ₹27,000 in wages under the VB-G RAM G scheme and ₹12,000 for toilet construction through the Swachh Bharat Mission, potentially bringing the total assistance per household to around ₹1.5 lakh. The government also plans to recruit approximately 8,000 new employees for the panchayat department, pending cabinet approval. The remaining houses under the current phase of the West Bengal Awas scheme are projected to be completed by March 2027.