Bengal tablet fund diversion fraud: ‘SIT formed, state will not tolerate such scams,’ says Mamata Banerjee

The West Bengal CM also said that those students who are yet to receive money for a tablet as part of the state’s 'Taruner Swapna' project will “get it soon”.

2 min readKolkataUpdated: Nov 15, 2024 10:50 PM IST

Earlier, the Kolkata and Malda police set up Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to probe the matter.

Addressing the alleged tablet fund diversion fraud in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that a Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the case. She added that the administration is “rough and tough” and will not tolerate “such scams”.

“A SIT (Special Investigation Team) has been formed on the tab scam. It is the administration’s job. Let the administration do it,” Banerjee said at the Bagdogra airport, before leaving for Kolkata after her four-day tour of northern West Bengal.

The West Bengal CM also said that those students who are yet to receive money for a tablet as part of the state’s ‘Taruner Swapna’ project will “get it soon”.

While questions have been raised about the role of the education department, administrative sources say Banerjee “herself is angry about the matter”.

The project, under which the Bengal government gives Rs 10,000 to students of classes 11 and 12 to buy tablets, was launched by Banerjee in 2021 after she came to power for the third time.

Initially, this money was given only to students of class 12. This year, it was decided that class 11 students would receive money as well. School authorities were expected to send the lists of students’ names and bank credentials to the education department.

A police investigation recently revealed that so far, at least 1,350 students in 15 districts of the state have not received the money meant for the tablets, due to some people allegedly hacking into the West Bengal Education Department’s portal to pilfer the funds.

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On CM Banerjee’s instructions, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant had earlier held a meeting with DG Rajeev Kumar and other officials of the state police.

“This (sort of) incident happened in several states including Maharashtra and Rajasthan. We managed to catch this group. So, our administration is very strong, rough, and tough. They have already arrested six people. They will do the rest,” Banerjee said.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

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