2 men held for availing Lakshmir Bhandar aid

Behrampore/Midnapore: Two men have been arrested in separate incidents for allegedly drawing financial benefits under Lakshmir Bhandar scheme, a state welfare scheme meant exclusively for women.In Murshidabad, Behrampore Police arrested Rakibul Sekh of Sialmara following an FIR lodged by the BDO. The arrest came after CM Suvendu Adhikari highlighted Rakibul's case while unveiling the ‘Annapurna Bhandar' scheme, claiming an audit had detected 30 lakh fake beneficiaries.Rakibul, who received benefits for three years, claimed the payments resulted from an administrative lapse and blamed a broker, Mustafijur Rahaman, for handling the paperwork.In West Midnapore, Chandrakona Police arrested local TMC neta and contractual worker Uttam Kumar Sau on charges of conspiracy, cheating and forgery after social media outrage over his inclusion in the beneficiary list. Police said since 2022, funds were credited to the bank account of Sau's wife, Munmun, though the beneficiary name registered was Uttam.