West Bengal CM Says Probe into Sebaashray Programme Underway; Makes Allegations Against TMC Leader

PTI, July 25, 2026, Kolkata : West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday termed TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee's healthcare outreach initiative, 'Sebaashray', a "massive scam" and the Lok Sabha MP a "fraudster", while asserting that "once in jail, he would not be out soon".

The Diamond Harbour MP, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, unveiled the initiative, offering free consultations, diagnostic tests and medicines, in January 2025 when the Trinamool Congress was in power in the state.

Multiple FIRs have been filed against him over alleged irregularities in health camps, including a woman complaining she lost her leg and a three-year-old girl her arm due to "botched" treatments.

In a detailed statement in the Assembly a day after BJP MLA Debangsu Panda raised the issue, the Chief Minister alleged the camps illegally used government infrastructure and were marred by medical negligence and serious regulatory violations.

During his address in the Assembly over the issue, Adhikari repeatedly referred to Abhishek Banerjee as the "fraudster nephew".

"A major scam has come to light involving the fraudster nephew's Sebaashray camps. Several complaints have been lodged... the fraudster nephew and his associates who committed irregularities in these medical camps will not be spared.

"We are being meticulous, collecting every piece of evidence and proceeding under the BNS. Action will be taken at the appropriate time. No guilty person will be spared," he said.

Displaying photographs in the House, Adhikari claimed that several patients had suffered permanent disabilities after undergoing treatment at the camps.

"Look at this child whose hand is gone. Look at another child who has been crippled. Look at this woman who has lost her leg," he said, alleging that the injuries resulted from illegal and negligent medical procedures.

Adhikari said, "This is a case of murder. No one will be able to save the fraudster nephew. Once he goes in, he will not be able to come out."

The government was building a strong criminal case on the matter.

Adhikari said the CID, the Special Task Force, district police and medical experts were jointly conducting an extensive probe, the Chief Minister told the Assembly.

"Every complaint from people who suffered in these Sebaashray camps is being treated as an FIR. Several FIRs have already been registered at the Bishnupur Police Station in South 24 Parganas district," he said, adding the names of all accused were not being disclosed in the Assembly in the interest of the investigation.

The Chief Minister alleged that ultrasonography and X-ray machines from state-owned hospitals, and government doctors and medical students, were deployed at the camps illegally.

He also alleged that expired medicines had been administered to patients at the camps.

"This is an extremely serious offence."

Reading out portions of a letter purportedly written by a junior doctor attached to the Diamond Harbour Medical College and Hospital, the Chief Minister said the doctor had complained that he and other medics were made to work at the camps.

Referring to another communication from a medical college student, he claimed the student had objected to being portrayed as a qualified doctor.

The state government has written to the Union Health Ministry and the Department of Atomic Energy over the "unauthorised" use of radiological equipment, while investigators were examining the diversion of the government's medical manpower and infrastructure for the camps, Adhikari said.

Saturday's statement marked the first time he laid out the government's case against the programme on the Assembly floor.

The Trinamool Congress had projected 'Sebaashray' as a model welfare initiative and promised to expand it across West Bengal on the lines of its flagship 'Duare Sarkar' programme if it returned to power.

Following the change of government after the Assembly elections, multiple complaints were lodged alleging that the camps were run without mandatory statutory approvals, illegally used government equipment and medicines, and violated several norms.

Authorities are also probing allegations of unauthorised use of radiological equipment and complaints by healthcare workers and medical interns that they were induced to work at the camps on promises of certificates that were never issued.