Fraud in Mamata Banerjee’s Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme; PM Modi Uncovers 3 Million Fake Beneficiaries

A major scam has come to light in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s flagship Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme. Investigations by central government officials have revealed that nearly 3 million beneficiaries fraudulently availed benefits under the scheme. This information was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting misuse and lapses in the scheme.

The Lakshmi Bhandar Scheme was designed to provide financial assistance to poor women in the state. However, investigations have uncovered that several malicious individuals exploited government funds for personal gain. Nearly 3 million beneficiaries were found to be fake, with funds meant for their accounts being misused. While the scheme was intended to benefit around 20 million women across the state, its credibility is now under serious scrutiny.

Central government officials conducting the probe have gathered further details on the fraud, including the roles of officials and intermediaries involved. Approximately ₹12,000 crore was released for the scheme, but doubts have now emerged over its proper utilisation. The central authorities have shared their findings with state officials and decided to intensify the investigation.