Chaibasa. A coalition of women from West Singhbhum district has filed a formal complaint accusing a large‑scale financial deception. They claim they were lured with promises of start‑up funding, only to find substantial sums withdrawn from their bank accounts without proper authorization.

Who lodged the complaint?

Sadhucharan Singh Kuntia, the district secretary of an international human‑rights body, submitted a written grievance on Monday to the Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police. The petition calls for a high‑level inquiry and swift action against any parties found responsible.

Geographic scope and victims

The filing identifies women from Bada Rayekman in the Kumaradungi block, as well as residents of Parampancho and Narsanda villages under the jurisdiction of the Muffasil police station.

Accused parties

According to the complaint, Rita Hembram and Rajendra Kumar Hembram of Andhari, Bada Rayekman, are the primary suspects. They allegedly approached the women offering financial assistance to set up micro‑enterprises.

Amount allegedly siphoned

The grievance states that a cumulative ₹12.57 lakh was extracted from the accounts of 14 beneficiaries across several banks and financial institutions. Highlighted transactions include:

  • ₹2.35 lakh withdrawn from Nikita Hembram’s account
  • ₹1.90 lakh taken from Sunika Hembram’s account
  • ₹1.50 lakh debited from Suryamuni Maharana’s account
  • ₹1.20 lakh removed from Kuni Hembram’s account

In most instances, the women received a token amount of only ₹500, and several report that their bank passbooks were never returned.

Pressure over purported loans

The matter has escalated, with complainants saying the affected families are now being asked to repay loans supposedly linked to the withdrawn money, adding further financial strain to households already reeling from the alleged fraud.

Demand for investigation

The human‑rights organization has urged the district administration and police to verify the transactions, investigate the role of the named individuals, and examine whether any bank officials were complicit. It also seeks help in recovering the funds taken from the women’s accounts.

Next steps

The allegations remain unproven pending a formal inquiry. Authorities are expected to scrutinise bank records, transaction logs, and any other evidence before reaching conclusions about culpability.