Malda, Sept. 15 -- A panchayat employee was arrested by Kaliachak police on Monday night for allegedly demanding money from beneficiaries in the name of providing benefits under the Awas Yojana and other government schemes.
The arrested person has been identified as Sandip Mondal, a resident of Ramashankartola under Kaliachak Police Station. According to police sources, Mondal was working as a tax collector at Kaliachak-I Gram Panchayat.
Police said an investigation was initiated after a written complaint was lodged on September 13.
Acting on the complaint, a police team raided Mondal's residence at Ramashankartola on Monday night and arrested him.
According to the allegations, Mondal had demanded money from beneficiaries, promising to facilitate allotment of houses under the Awas Yojana. Complainants alleged that they were pressured to pay around Rs 60,000, failing which they would not be provided houses under the scheme.
He has also been accused of taking money from people on the assurance of arranging benefits under other government welfare schemes.
Police are investigating the allegations and examining how much money was allegedly collected and whether others were involved in the alleged racket. Mondal was produced before the Malda district court on Tuesday, where police sought 10 days' custody for further investigation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.