Kolkata, Jan 3 (NationPress) The cumulative confiscation amount by the Enforcement Directorate has soared to Rs 239.26 crore thus far in the cash-for-school-job scandal in West Bengal, despite ongoing uncertainties surrounding the completion of the charge framing process in the ED-registered case.

This confiscation encompasses both cash and gold seized, in addition to the attachment of properties and assets located within West Bengal and beyond.

As per the latest reports from the ED, a significant attachment involves commercial properties in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, along with land and buildings in Malda district, West Bengal, valued at Rs 8.20 crore.

These properties are reportedly owned by M/s ND Infosystems Pvt. Ltd, a company controlled by Niladri Das and his family, and Abdul Khalek and his relatives.

Additionally, the recent confiscations include land parcels valued at Rs 46.13 lakh that are registered under the names of Chandan Mondal and his spouse.

On Thursday, the charge framing process in the ED-registered case was delayed for the second time this week at a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata due to the prime accused, Sujay Krishna Bhadra, being hospitalized and unable to appear in court.

According to regulations, the charge framing cannot be finalized unless all accused individuals are present physically in court on that day.

The ED has listed a total of 29 individuals and 24 corporate entities and trusts as accused in their charge sheets submitted over time to the special court.

In addition to Bhadra, notable figures cited in the charge sheet include former Education Minister and Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee, as well as former President of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, Manik Bhattacharya.

Also mentioned is Chatterjee’s close associate Arpita Mukherjee, from whose residences the ED confiscated substantial amounts of cash and gold in July 2022. Another individual noted as an accused is Chatterjee’s son-in-law Kalyan Moy Bhattacharya. A trust named the Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, established in memory of Chatterjee’s late wife, is also included as an accused entity in the charge sheet.