ED files charge sheet in WBSSC scam on Monday

Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against six companies and two individuals Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee.

 

According to the most recent update on the matter relating to the West Bengal SSC recruitment scam, the Enforcement Directorate filed a charge sheet on Monday against Partha Chatterjee and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee who were allegedly associated with the teacher’s recruitment scam. A charge sheet has also been filed against 6 companies along with a 14000 long-page document containing evidence.

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In conjunction with the ED’s investigation into anomalies in the WBSSC recruitment scam, Chatterjee and his close aide were both detained on July 23. The ED said in documents submitted to Kolkata’s Bankshall court that it has so far located money, jewellery, and real estate worth 103.10 crores related to the disputed pair. A week after the arrest was made by ED CM Mamata Banerjee relieved him of all posts within the party and also of ministerial posts.

Details on 35 savings accounts, 40 physical properties, 31 insurance policies, and 201 shell businesses that are being investigated were included in the massive 14,000-page package of records. Four sealed steel trunks containing all the investigation’s documentation were delivered to the court.

During his time as education minister from 2014 to 2021, Chatterjee allegedly established a number of shell companies to conceal bribes paid by unqualified candidates in exchange for positions in state-run schools. The charge sheet also stated that unemployed and low-income individuals were appointed as directors of these companies for salaries ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 rupees. “Eight people, including Chatterjee and Mukherjee, have been named in the charge sheet, which was filed on the 58th day since their arrest. Statements of 43 witnesses have also been submitted to the court,” one of the lawyers representing the ED said.

In relation to this case, Subiresh Bhattacharya, former chairman of the School Service Commission who has been currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of North Bengal University has been arrested by CBI on orders from Calcutta High Court. One of his residences in Kolkata was sealed on August 24. “Bhattacharya was not cooperating with our officers. There were discrepancies in his statements,” a CBI official who wanted to remain anonymous.  According to sources, ED has pressed charges of Money laundering directly against the former education minister

Further updates are still awaited.