West Bengal's health department has launched a parallel investigation into the 'Sebaashray' free health camp initiative — formerly run under Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary and Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee — after a woman alleged her right limb was amputated following wrong treatment at one of the camps in South 24 Parganas. The probe was initiated on 12 July following a police complaint filed by Malati Biswas at the Rabindra Nagar Police Station.

What the Complaint Alleges

According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered at Rabindra Nagar Police Station under the Diamond Harbour Police district, Malati Biswas had visited the 'Sebaashray' camp with a complaint of knee pain and was prescribed medicines by a doctor at the camp. Her condition, however, worsened rather than improved.

She returned to the camp, where doctors this time referred her to MR Bangur Hospital on the southern outskirts of Kolkata. Doctors there reportedly told her that her knee had deteriorated due to incorrect medication. She was subsequently referred to National Medical College and Hospital at Park Circus in central Kolkata. Her condition continued to worsen, and her right limb was ultimately amputated.

When Biswas subsequently approached 'Sebaashray' authorities for an explanation, she claims they ignored her. Repeated attempts to contact Abhishek Banerjee directly also reportedly yielded no response.

Health Department's Response

A senior state health department official confirmed that the department has decided to conduct an independent inquiry alongside the police investigation. 'The affected woman and her family members will arrive with all relevant documents in the matter at the Swasthya Bhavan, the state health department headquarters, by 11 a.m. on Monday. Senior officials of the state health department will listen to their points in the matter, examine the documents and take necessary action accordingly,' the official said.

The department's intervention signals a formal institutional response to what had previously been treated as a law-and-order matter.

Police Action and Named Accused

The Rabindra Nagar Police Station has registered an FIR against Abhishek Banerjee, his reportedly absconding executive assistant Sumit Roy, and 10 others. Police have commenced a formal investigation into the matter.

Notably, this is not an isolated complaint. Since the change of government in West Bengal, a total of 17 complaints have been registered against 'Sebaashray', including Biswas's. Police have already filed two separate FIRs in connection with these cases.

Broader Pattern of Complaints

The complaints against 'Sebaashray' span multiple categories of alleged wrongdoing. While the majority relate to medical negligence and incorrect treatment, others allege that the camps were operated without authorisation from the state health department, that unqualified doctors were allegedly hired to run them, and that expired medicines were allegedly distributed to patients.

This comes amid a broader post-election scrutiny of TMC-linked welfare and outreach programmes following the political transition in the state. With the health department now conducting its own inquiry and police pursuing multiple FIRs, the legal and institutional pressure on the 'Sebaashray' initiative — and by extension on Abhishek Banerjee — is set to intensify in the days ahead.