'Return cut-money' chorus grows in Bengal, top cops told to file FIRs

In what could be a first of its kind in the history of the country, a politician on Tuesday officially returned the “bribe” — described as “cut money” by Trinamool Congress [TMC] chief Mamata Banerjee — taken from the local residents in Birbhum district of south Bengal. Party area president Trilochon Mukherjee returned ₹2.28 lakh collected to dig a canal.

The Chief Minister had recently asked the party leaders and workers to return the money which had created widespread commotion in the State. The BJP too turned it into an issue.

Mr. Mukherjee returned ₹1,617 each to 141 persons, the elated villagers said. They thanked Ms. Banerjee for the “money back policy”. Mr. Mukherjee however sounded a little sullen.