The West Bengal Government is set to present the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s reports on state income and expenditures in the Assembly on July 25, the final day of the ongoing extended Budget Session. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari confirmed this announcement during discussions on the state home department’s budgetary allocation, which falls under his purview.
The decision to table the CAG report was initially made by the state’s new finance minister, Swapan Dasgupta, a former journalist turned politician, while presenting the state budget proposals for the fiscal year 2026-27 last month. Chief Minister Adhikari later specified July 25 as the scheduled date for tabling the CAG report in the Assembly.
Addressing accountability, the Chief Minister emphasized that development must be accompanied by transparency. He highlighted the importance of investigating any allegations of corruption, regardless of the individual’s stature, once their name is implicated in wrongdoing. Adhikari also mentioned that the upcoming House session will involve discussions based on the CAG report, leading to decisions being made accordingly.
Furthermore, Adhikari stressed that the CAG report is expected to reveal instances of corruption across various sectors. He asserted that no leader, including the Chief Minister or ministers, would be exempt from scrutiny, and the state government is prepared to recommend initiating FIRs against any officials implicated in corrupt practices.
Recalling alleged corruption related to relief efforts after the 2020 Amphan super-cyclone, the Chief Minister cited a special CAG investigation that reportedly uncovered malpractice in the distribution of relief funds. Despite the investigation’s recommendations for legal action against those involved, no steps were taken. Adhikari criticized the lack of transparency in handling the investigation report, which was not made public or presented in the Assembly.
