Kolkata, Jan 21 (NationPress) – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) from the Kolkata Zonal Office has provisionally attached immovable assets valued at around Rs 57.78 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. This action is part of the ongoing investigation into the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (SSC) assistant teacher recruitment scam for Classes 9 to 12, according to agency officials.

The properties, which are now under ED's attachment, belong to arrested Trinamool Congress MLA Jiban Krishna Saha, Prasanna Kumar Roy, and others. They encompass multiple residential apartments, villas, and land parcels in Rajarhat, New Town, Patharghata, Garagari, and other nearby regions in North 24 Parganas, as well as locations in Murshidabad and East Burdwan, including areas developed by HIDCO in Kolkata.

The agency disclosed that these assets were acquired through the proceeds of crime linked to illegal appointments of assistant teachers for Classes 9 to 12.

The ED's investigation began based on CBI FIRs filed by the direction of the Calcutta High Court.

This case revolves around the alleged extensive manipulation of the recruitment process by the West Bengal Central School Service Commission. It is reported that OMR sheets and personality test scores were tampered with, allowing undeserving candidates to be appointed in exchange for illegal payments.

The ED has indicated that Prasanna Kumar Roy played a significant role as the primary intermediary in this scam, collecting substantial sums of money from ineligible candidates to secure unlawful employment.

Allegedly, hundreds of crores of rupees generated from these illicit activities were laundered through a complex web of companies, LLPs, and bank accounts, ultimately leading to the acquisition of these immovable properties.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that MLA Jiban Krishna Saha was deeply involved in managing and collecting the proceeds of crime from ineligible candidates seeking positions as Group C, Group D, and assistant teachers.

Jiban Krishna Saha was apprehended on August 25 of the previous year after attempting to evade capture during ED's searches at his residence in Murshidabad.

The investigation confirmed that the illicit proceeds were utilized for acquiring immovable properties in the names of Jiban Krishna Saha and his family, predominantly situated in Murshidabad and East Burdwan, valued at approximately Rs 3.01 crore.

Moreover, it was uncovered that numerous properties were purchased in the name of Nilima Mangal, an ex-wife and close associate of Prasanna Kumar Roy. The funds for these acquisitions reportedly stemmed from illegal recruitment schemes.

Previously, the ED had arrested Prasanna Kumar Roy related to this investigation and submitted a prosecution complaint to the special court, which has acknowledged the money laundering offense.