Kolkata, 12 June (H.S.) : A large stockpile of relief materials, including blankets, sarees and other government-supplied items, was recovered from a room adjacent to the Sreebhumi Sporting Club ground on Friday, triggering fresh controversy over the alleged storage of relief goods at club premises.

The recovery comes days after a similar discovery at Suruchi Sangha, and has intensified scrutiny over the handling and distribution of relief materials intended for beneficiaries.

According to local sources, the materials were found in a room located within the Sreebhumi playground area in Ward No. 34 of the South Dum Dum Municipality under the Bidhannagar Assembly constituency. The recovered items reportedly include government-issued tarpaulins, blankets, clothing for elderly people and children, waste disposal bins, cooking stoves, and packets of Gangasagar prasad.

Sreebhumi Sporting Club has long been associated with former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, who is currently in Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in connection with the municipal recruitment corruption case.

Local residents alleged that several of the recovered items were originally meant for distribution among disaster-affected people and other beneficiaries but remained stored in the room for an extended period. They further claimed that Gangasagar prasad from the 2024 and 2026 pilgrimage seasons, which was supposed to be distributed among devotees, was also found lying undistributed inside the premises.

Photographs and videos from the site purportedly showed sacks filled with blankets, tarpaulins and cotton sarees, while cartons containing Gangasagar prasad and ceremonial pots were also found stored inside the room.

The recovery has raised questions regarding the management and distribution of relief materials. However, officials are yet to issue a formal statement on the source of the stockpile, the duration of its storage, and whether any irregularities were committed in the handling of the materials.

Further inquiries are expected to determine whether the goods were being lawfully stored for future distribution or if there was any violation of government norms governing relief supplies.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh