Panchayat head accused of demanding ₹7,000 from Awas Yojana beneficiaries in viral video

Abdul Ahad, the head of Krishnapur Gram Panchayat in Vaishnavnagar, has been accused of instructing Panchayat members to collect ₹7,000 from each beneficiary of the Awas Yojana housing scheme. In a video that surfaced, Ahad is allegedly heard stating that Kaliachak Block III’s Block Development Officer (BDO) had called him and other Panchayat heads to a meeting, where they were directed to collect the amount from the beneficiaries of the scheme.

Following the video’s release, several Panchayat members from Krishnapur Gram Panchayat filed formal complaints with the District Magistrate’s office. They have expressed concerns over the allegations and requested an investigation. The District Magistrate’s office has confirmed that an inquiry has been initiated to verify the claims. The investigation will focus on the authenticity of the allegations and whether any official directives were given by the BDO or other officials regarding the collection of money from Awas Yojana beneficiaries.

Abdul Ahad has denied the accusations, asserting that the claims are false and that no such instructions were issued by the BDO. The District Magistrate’s office is conducting a detailed investigation, and further actions will depend on the findings. The inquiry aims to assess the truth of the claims and determine if any other officials or Panchayat members were involved in the alleged incident.