By TC News Desk
Agartala, 23rd August 2025: A serious allegation of financial fraud has surfaced in Boxanagar, where members of a women’s self-help group (SHG) have been accused of forging signatures and embezzling Rs 50,000 from their collective savings. The group’s leader, Lipika Roy Pal, has formally approached both the Boxanagar RD Block office and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, demanding a thorough investigation and strict action against the accused.
The self-help group (SHG) named Maa-Babar Aashirbad was established in January 2022 by ten women from Kamalnagar, located within Boxanagar Block. Each member consistently contributed Rs 100 every month, with deposits continuing smoothly until December 2024. However, from January to August 2025, no further contributions were made, prompting concern and suspicion from the group’s leader, Lipika Roy Pal.
Lipika reportedly made repeated calls to group members to inquire about the halted deposits but received evasive responses. Her suspicions deepened when she visited the Matinagar branch of State Bank of India for personal work and overheard discussions related to the group’s account.
Upon inquiry, bank officials informed her that the group’s funds had already been withdrawn. Shocked, Lipika asserted she had neither authorized nor signed any withdrawal documents. Her protest was met with indifference from both the bank and fellow group members.
Feeling betrayed and helpless, Lipika attempted to engage local authorities and the bank for redress, but her efforts yielded no resolution. She has now called for a formal investigation, emphasizing the vulnerability of poor depositors and the need for accountability.
“There are whispers of similar incidents across Boxanagar Block,” she stated, urging the administration to prevent future cases of signature forgery and financial exploitation.
