SIT formed to probe into tab fund diversion scam: Mamata

3 FIRs lodged, 11 held as state police suspect involvement of inter-state gangs

PTI, KOLKATA, NOV 15, 2024 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said that her government has formed a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to probe into a fraud in which government funds sent to bank accounts of students for purchasing tabs or mobile phones were diverted elsewhere. Six people were arrested in this connection, Mamata said while speaking to journalists at the Bagdogra airport in the northern part of the state before flying back to Kolkata.

The government had transferred Rs 10,000 to the bank accounts of each higher secondary and Class 10 student of government schools to purchase a tablet or mobile, but several of them did not receive the money due to alleged malpractices.

"An SIT has been formed. Our administration is very strong. They have already arrested six people and will do whatever is required. The group (involved in the case) is from Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Such groups exist in almost all other states,” the Chief Minister said. The government has started giving money to all who did not receive it, she added.

Meanwhile, a senior officer of state police on Friday said that in all, 1,911 out of 16 lakh students of state-run schools have fallen victim to a cyber-fraud linked to the state government's ‘Taruner Swapno’ scheme, which provides Rs 10,000 to Class 10 and 12 students to purchase tablets. The scam prompted police to launch an investigation. So far, 93 cases have been filed, and 11 people have been arrested in connection with the fraudulent activities, he added.

"So far, 11 people have been arrested and 93 FIRs lodged in connection with the tablet scheme scam. Out of the 16 lakh students of Class 10 and 12, 1,911 students have been defrauded," ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar told reporters. According to Sarkar, the fraud was conducted by cybercriminals operating from multiple states, including Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand.

"The investigation has uncovered evidence suggesting the involvement of interstate gangs. Some of the arrested suspects have reportedly admitted to being part of these operations, and documents seized during the raids have confirmed their participation in previous cyber scams, including siphoning off funds from other Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes and the national scholarship portal," he added.

The state police has set up Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to probe the scam and are working closely with law enforcement agencies in other states. They are investigating whether there was any manipulation of the system at the local level or if internal collusion helped the fraudsters, he added.

"We are trying to find out whether these miscreants manipulated the system, or there was any involvement of people at the ground level, or whether someone acted as a mole in the system to help the fraudsters," Sarkar said.