After Bengal power shift, villagers start getting back 'cut money' paid for govt schemes
Times of India | 2 June 2026
MATHABHANGA: Several residents of Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district have received back the “cut money” they had paid to local toughs while availing benefits of government schemes. Reportedly, the residents had paid significant sums during the tenure of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) regime.
Villagers and traders claimed the money was paid either to receive funds under the Awas Yojana, for buying or selling land or houses, or for conducting business. According to a PTI report, the practice of collecting “cut money” began unofficially in the state after the TMC won the 2021 assembly elections by the toughs allegedly loyal to the party.
District TMC authorities, however, said the party had nothing to do with any illegal collection of money, PTI reported.
Meanwhile, demands for the return of “cut money” intensified across different parts of Mathabhanga after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state. It has been reported that the perpetrators returned at least part of the money as pressure mounted.
Locals said at least 14 beneficiaries of housing scheme funds in the Subhaspalli area of Mathabhanga received back the commission taken from them. Several residents of Fakirerkuthi village under Pachagarh panchayat also received their money in cash on Sunday.
Local BJP leader Surendra Barman alleged villagers were forced to pay if they wanted to access benefits of government welfare schemes or to buy or sell land.
At Ghughumari in Mathabhanga subdivision of Cooch Behar district, announcements were made through loudspeakers mounted on a rickshaw, calling those who had paid “cut money.” Villagers who had paid large commissions for housing under the Awas Yojana were told they would receive their money back from a panchayat member’s residence on June 4.
Another local BJP leader, Joy Pal, said people who could not speak openly about the ongoing fraud had now gathered courage to do so. He stated that with the change of power in the state, villagers allegedly forced to pay a percentage of their Awas Yojana funds are now fighting for their rights.
“The villagers who received funds under the Awas Yojana were threatened that the next tranche of money would not be released if they did not pay around Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each,” Pal said.