TMC leaders return 'cut money' to villagers in West Bengal
What's the story
In a rare turn of events, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and activists have started returning "cut money" they had collected from villagers in Pachagarh Gram Panchayat. The incident took place on Sunday in the Fakirer Kuthi area under the Panchagarh Gram Panchayat. The move comes amid public anger and ostensibly from the fear of legal action against them for extortion.
Public meeting
Money returned at public meeting
The money was returned at a public meeting called by local TMC leaders at a school field in Fakirer Kuthi. Tapan Dey, the booth president of Pachagarh Gram Panchayat, was seen returning money to villagers. Babai Barman, a prominent local TMC leader who is currently absconding, had his elderly father return the money on his behalf.
Twitter Post
Visual of TMC members returning 'cut money'
Seeing is believing.
— Surajit Dasgupta (@surajitdasgupta) June 2, 2026
Here’s a bunch of TMC’s lumpen elements returning the ‘tola’ they had extorted from villagers in an open field in West Bengal to avoid arrest and public outrage: pic.twitter.com/dzPD25a0dP
Extortion allegations
Villagers divided between relief and resentment
Surendra Barman, the president of the local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit, alleged that a panchayat member and other TMC leaders collected around ₹80 lakh from villagers. "Now, fearing consequences, even though the panchayat member himself is absent, a few leaders have been forced to appear and return at least some of the money," he said, as per NDTV. The incident has left villagers divided between relief and resentment over getting their money back.
Public sentiment
I got my money back
One villager, who received his money back after registering his name, expressed relief and resentment, NDTV's report stated. He said a local TMC leader had taken a large sum from him under the pretext of resolving a land dispute, but no work was done. "Later, I heard from several people that money was being returned. So, I registered my name, and today I got my money back," he was quoted as saying.