Chaibasa. A coalition of women from West Singhbhum district has filed a formal grievance alleging a large‑scale financial deception. They claim they were lured with assurances of micro‑enterprise support, only to discover substantial sums withdrawn from their bank accounts without proper authorization.
Who lodged the complaint?
Sadhucharan Singh Kuntia, district secretary of an international human‑rights group, submitted a written petition on Monday to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police. The filing calls for a high‑level probe and decisive action against any parties found responsible.
Geographic scope and victims
The grievance enumerates women from Bada Rayekman in the Kumaradungi block, together with residents of Parampancho and Narsanda villages that fall under the Muffasil police‑station’s jurisdiction.
Alleged perpetrators
According to the complaint, Rita Hembram and Rajendra Kumar Hembram of Andhari, Bada Rayekman, are identified as the chief suspects. They are accused of approaching the women with promises of financial aid to launch small businesses.
Sum allegedly siphoned
The petition asserts that a total of ₹12.57 lakh was extracted from the accounts of fourteen beneficiaries across several banks and financial institutions. Highlighted transactions include:
- ₹2.35 lakh debited from Nikita Hembram’s account
- ₹1.90 lakh taken from Sunika Hembram’s account
- ₹1.50 lakh withdrawn from Suryamuni Maharana’s account
- ₹1.20 lakh removed from Kuni Hembram’s account
In most instances the women received a nominal amount of merely ₹500, and several claim they never got their bank passbooks back.
Pressure over supposed loans
The situation has escalated, with complainants reporting that the affected families are now being asked to repay loans allegedly tied to the missing funds. This has added a further financial burden to households already reeling from the alleged fraud.
Demand for investigation
The human‑rights organisation has urged district authorities and police to verify the transactions, examine the involvement of the named individuals, and assess whether bank staff colluded. It also seeks assistance in recovering the money taken from the women’s accounts.
Next steps
The accusations remain unproven pending a formal inquiry. Officials are expected to scrutinise bank statements, transaction logs, and any ancillary evidence before drawing conclusions about liability.
