States » EastPosted at: Nov 5 2026 11:41PM


Zero tolerance for industrial extortion, corruption: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata, Nov 5 (UNI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday said his government had “ended extortion” and promised swift police action on complaints from industry, while unveiling the state's new Investment Promotion Policy, 2026, at Utsari Hall in New Town.
“We have ended extortion. Action against complaints lodged over extortion is being taken within 15 minutes of the complaint being lodged with us,” Adhikari said.
The Chief Minister said the government had adopted a “zero-tolerance” policy towards extortion from industry and warned that strict action would be taken against those attempting to harass investors.
“We are positive about industrialisation and an industry-friendly atmosphere in Bengal,” he said.
Adhikari said the government had tightened its administrative systems and curbed illegal transactions involving traffic police, adding that industrialists too must respect the law.
“Just as the government has brought in strictness at the administrative level and stopped illegal transactions by traffic police on the roads, industrialists too will have to respect the law,” he said.
He said industrialists must cooperate with the government by stopping the transportation of excess goods and overloading.
“If industrialists cooperate with the government, the government will always stand by them and protect their interests,” he said.
Adhikari said a toll-free number had been introduced for industrialists facing extortion.
“If anyone faces this problem anywhere, call the toll-free number,” he said, adding that police would act within 15 minutes of receiving a complaint and that arrests would follow.
“Our government follows the policy of ‘Na khaunga, na khane dunga (We will not take bribes neither will we allow anyone to tale bribes)’,” he said.
The Chief Minister also alleged that nearly Rs 20,000 crore of the state's revenue had been siphoned off by “anti-nationals and mafia” during the previous Trinamool Congress regime. The allegation was not independently verified.
He accused the CPI(M)-led Left Front of damaging Bengal's industrial base through aggressive trade-union politics and alleged that the subsequent TMC government had further weakened industrialisation through a flawed land policy.
The new policy seeks to make employment generation a central component of industrial incentives, with enhanced benefits linked to job creation.
Eligible MSMEs will receive reimbursement of 100 per cent of the employer's EPF contribution for women and transgender employees for 10 years, compared with 50 per cent for male employees. Service-sector units employing more than 200 people will receive 75 per cent reimbursement for women and 50 per cent for men for five years.
Large units and mega projects generating at least 200 jobs in priority areas or 400 elsewhere will be eligible for 50 per cent EPF reimbursement for five years.
The policy provides for a time-bound single-window system. A Certificate of Intent is to be issued within 30 days of application and a Certificate of Eligibility within 45 days of commencement of production. Claims are to be sanctioned and paid within 30 days.
Large projects will have dedicated officers, with their progress reviewed monthly by the Chief Secretary. Applications, approvals and payments will be made faceless wherever possible.
The policy caps total assistance at 100 per cent of eligible fixed capital investment for regular units, 110 per cent for units in thrust sectors or priority areas and 120 per cent for thrust-sector units in priority areas.
It identifies semiconductors and electronics, green hydrogen, waste-to-energy and CBG, digital technologies, EVs and batteries, defence manufacturing, shipbuilding, textiles, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, automobiles, speciality steel, petrochemicals and aviation among its thrust sectors.
The policy also provides electricity-duty and stamp-duty assistance, R&D support and incentives for MSMEs adopting new technology. It seeks to revive eligible sick and closed industrial units.
Ministers Tapas Roy, Swapan Dasgupta, Arjun Singh, Shankar Ghosh, Sharadwat Mukherjee were there at the programme alongwith industrialists including Harshavardhan Neotia, Sanjay Budhia, Mayank Jalan, Umesh Chaudhary, C.S. Dhanuka and Rudra Chatterjee. UNI SEN CDS
Tags: #Zero tolerance for industrial extortion# corruption: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari
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