Siliguri, 14th August: Pradhan Nagar Police have arrested two people for allegedly securing benefits under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) through fraudulent means for financially well-off individuals. Police are also examining the alleged role of former Trinamool Congress councillor and former MMIC of Siliguri Municipal Corporation’s Ward No. 03, Ram Bhajan Mahato, in the case.
According to police sources, the arrested accused have been identified as Rakesh Sha and Biswajit Saha, both residents of Gurung Basti. They were produced before the Siliguri Sub-Divisional Court on Friday.
During the investigation, police found that Rakesh Sha already owns a four-storey concrete house in Gurung Basti. Police also claimed that Biswajit Saha owns a hotel in the same area. This has raised questions over how the two were included in the list of beneficiaries under the housing scheme.
The Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is aimed at providing housing assistance to economically weaker and homeless families. The alleged inclusion of property owners and a hotel owner among the beneficiaries has raised questions over the process of beneficiary selection.
Last month, Bikrant Bimal, a resident of Anandamoyee Colony, lodged a written complaint at Pradhan Nagar Police Station. The complaint alleged that former MMIC Ram Bhajan Mahato had used forged documents to illegally provide PMAY benefits to some of his acquaintances.
Based on the complaint, police launched an investigation. The two arrests have been made as part of the probe, while investigators are questioning them to establish how the benefits were secured, verify the authenticity of the documents and identify others who may be involved.