A Murshidabad man has been arrested in West Bengal for allegedly receiving monthly financial assistance under the state's Lakshmir Bhandar scheme — a programme exclusively meant for women — for over two years, officials confirmed on Thursday, 29 May 2025. The case has triggered fresh scrutiny over beneficiary verification in the scheme.

Who Was Arrested and What Happened

The accused, identified as Rakibul Sheikh, is a resident of Radharghat-1 Gram Panchayat under the Berhampore police station area in Murshidabad district. According to police, Sheikh runs a restaurant with two associates and has a steady source of income, making him ineligible for the welfare benefit on multiple grounds.

Sheikh was arrested on Wednesday night after his name was cited publicly by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari during a meeting at Nabanna Sabhaghar — the state government's administrative conference hall in Kolkata. The administration moved swiftly following the chief minister's mention.

Sheikh's Defence: Administrative Negligence, Not Fraud

Sheikh, however, contested the framing of his arrest. In his own words: 'My wife is a beneficiary of Lakshmir Bhandar. Money was flowing into my account for two years. I went to the BDO office to get my name removed. But no one cared. I didn't even apply. This is complete administrative negligence.'

He claimed he had visited the Block Development Officer (BDO) office repeatedly to have his name struck off the list, but no corrective action was taken. His account, he insisted, received the funds without any application from his side — pointing to a systemic lapse rather than deliberate impersonation.

What the Chief Minister Said About Illegal Beneficiaries

The arrest comes in the context of a broader crackdown announced by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday. Adhikari told reporters that approximately 30 lakh illegal beneficiaries — including males — had been receiving monthly payments under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, which was introduced by the previous Mamata Banerjee-led government.

He further stated that all legitimate beneficiaries, after the exclusion of the 30 lakh ineligible recipients, would be automatically enrolled under the Annapurna Yojana scheme — the new programme set to replace Lakshmir Bhandar.

Wider Concerns Over Beneficiary Verification

Locals in the area expressed shock at the revelation, and questions have surfaced about the integrity of the beneficiary list at large. The case highlights a significant gap in the enrolment and verification process — if a man with a steady income could receive funds for two years without detection, critics argue the system's checks were inadequate.

Notably, this is not an isolated concern: the chief minister's own figure of 30 lakh alleged illegal beneficiaries suggests the problem may be systemic rather than confined to individual cases. How the transition to Annapurna Yojana handles re-verification will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.