TMC leader promises to return cut money

In West Bengal, the TMC seems to be on back foot. Local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader are reportedly  promising  to return "cut money" collected from beneficiaries.  In Mathabhanga in Cooch Behar district, where Trinamool leaders and workers -- to avoid public anger and possible legal action -- have reportedly started returning money they had collected over time as "cut money" or through extortion. The announcements on returning "cut money" to the villagers were made across Booth No 173 through loudspeakers at the Ghughumari Gram Panchayat in Cooch Behar South, days after residents staged a protest outside the home of TMC panchayat member Jyotsna Barman. TMC leader promised to return "cut money" collected from beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana by June 4. Through loudspeaker announcements across the village, residents are repeatedly reminding everyone, including the TMC leader, about the promised refund deadline. It is said that the agitation was called off after Barman and other local leaders assured villagers that all the money would be refunded by June 4. To ensure the promise is not forgotten, residents have begun broadcasting the deadline through loudspeakers across the area, turning the village's public address system into a daily reminder of the commitment.

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TMC leader publicly announces the return of 'cut money' via loudspeaker from a Toto in Cooch Behar. The same extortion racket they ran for years is now being reversed out of sheer fear of… pic.twitter.com/3lCbuTpQGv

— BJP (@BJP4India) May 31, 2026

"Cut money" refers to the unofficial commission allegedly demanded by local politicians or intermediaries in West Bengal to facilitate approval or release of government welfare benefits and development funds.The villagers alleged that beneficiaries of the housing scheme were forced to pay commissions ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000 to secure benefits and avoid delays in future instalments. They claimed that many families paid the extortion money out of fear during the previous TMC regime. Since the change of guard, the villagers have launched protests demanding that their extorted money be returned.
The distribution took place at a field on Sunday in the Fakirer Kuthi area under the Pachagarh Gram Panchayat, where the villagers were called for a special gathering. In some cases where Trinamool leaders are on the run, their families came to pay up.  Surendra Barman, president of the local BJP unit, said, "According to the information we have, a panchayat member, along with several Trinamool leaders, collected around Rs 80 lakh from villagers in the area". Babai Barman, considered a highly influential Trinamool leader in the area, is reportedly on the run.