The Calcutta High Court has directed the State authorities, particularly the investigating agency, to complete expeditiously the investigation into alleged wrongful disbursement of funds under the Government Disability Allowance Scheme in the Samserganj area of Murshidabad.

A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Atarup Banerjee passed the direction while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Suraj Sk.

The PIL primarily sought directions to the authorities to conduct a “fair, impartial, independent, comprehensive and time-bound inquiry” into the identification, medical assessment, verification, selection, sanction and disbursement of disability allowance to beneficiaries within the concerned Samserganj Gram Panchayat/Block area.

The petitioner's case, as recorded in the order, was that government funds earmarked for genuinely eligible persons with disabilities had been “fraudulently obtained by others having no lawful entitlement” and had been utilised for purposes unrelated to the object of the West Bengal Disability Pension Scheme, 2010.

Advocate Omar Faruk Gazi, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that respondent no.9, stated to be a member of the Samserganj Panchayat Samity, had allegedly taken advantage of his public office and had been instrumental in the wrongful utilisation of funds under the scheme.

It was further submitted that 15 persons associated with the respondent had allegedly acted as accomplices. The order records that the details of the alleged illegal beneficiaries were set out in paragraph 11 of the writ petition.

The State opposed the PIL, submitting that an inquiry had already been conducted on the basis of the complaint concerning beneficiaries receiving financial assistance under the pension scheme.

According to the State, following the inquiry, Samserganj Police Station Case No. 613/2026 dated July 5, 2026 was registered under Sections 318(4), 336(2), 336(3), 340(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The State further informed the Court that investigation was underway. Notices had been issued to several accused persons under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, statements of witnesses had been recorded and steps were being taken for expeditious completion of the investigation.

The State placed before the Court a report submitted by the Inspector-in-Charge of Samserganj Police Station, Jangipur Police District.

The report, as recorded by the Bench, showed that the investigating authority had found 13 certificates out of the 15 certificates under investigation to be fake.

The Court directed that the report be kept on record.

After considering the submissions and materials on record, the Bench observed that the primary grievance of the petitioner was that government funds earmarked for genuinely eligible persons with disabilities had allegedly been wrongfully obtained by persons who were not entitled to benefits under the scheme.

The Court noted that the matter had already been brought to the attention of the State authorities and that a police case had been registered on July 5, 2026, with the investigation in progress.

“In the said conspectus, the allegations levelled by the petitioner in the writ petition cannot be ruled out,” the Bench observed.

Since the investigation was already underway, the Court did not issue any direction for a separate inquiry. Instead, it disposed of the PIL with a direction to the State respondents, particularly the investigating authority, to complete the investigation in Samserganj Police Station Case No. 613/2026 “as expeditiously as possible to book the wrongdoers.”

Case: Suraj Sk - Versus - The State of West Bengal & Ors.

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