Sebashray camp probe: Bengal CM to address Assembly on Saturday
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is set to make a statement on the floor of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Saturday, 26 July, addressing the state government's ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities at the Sebashray health camp — run under the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in Diamond Harbour constituency, South 24 Parganas district. The camp was associated with Abhishek Banerjee, TMC general secretary and Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour.
What Was Raised in the Assembly
The issue came to the fore on Friday, the fifth day of the extended budget session, when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Debangshu Panda, representing Falta Assembly Constituency, levelled serious charges against the Sebashray camp on the floor of the House.
Panda alleged that patients had suffered grave medical consequences due to incorrect treatment administered at the camps. 'Some patients had to lose their hands, while some lost their legs,' he said. He further alleged that a playground in Falta, occupied by a Sebashray camp for an extended period, would now cost the state approximately ₹24 lakh to restore to public use.
Panda also made a pointed political allegation: 'The purpose of keeping that pandal was to take BJP workers there and torture them had the results of the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls been otherwise,' he told the House, while formally seeking a statement from the Chief Minister.
Government's Response
Following Panda's intervention, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shankar Ghosh informed the Assembly that Chief Minister Adhikari would address the matter on Saturday — the final day of the extended budget session. The Treasury Bench is also scheduled to table the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India's report on state income and expenditures before the House on the same day.
Key Allegations Against Sebashray
The central charge against the Sebashray health camp is that it was operated without government approval. Additional allegations include the illegal use of medical equipment, medicines, and machinery — with claims that even radioactive substances were deployed. Health workers and intern doctors have reportedly complained that they were brought to the camps under false promises of certificates, which were never issued, and were subsequently compelled to continue working there.
Context and What Comes Next
This is not the first time the Sebashray camps have drawn scrutiny. The initiative, which ran during the TMC-led administration, has faced mounting criticism since the BJP came to power in West Bengal following the 2026 Assembly election. The Chief Minister's statement on Saturday is expected to outline the scope of the state government's probe and signal what action, if any, is being pursued against those responsible.
The tabling of the CAG report on the same day adds another layer of legislative accountability to what is shaping up as a politically charged final session day.