Is Raj Bhavan Delaying the Chargesheet Against Trinamool Legislator?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Governor's sanction needed for chargesheet approval.
- Irregularities in teacher recruitment are under investigation.
- Bhattacharya was removed from his WBBPE position.
- Bagchi has faced questioning by CBI and ED.
- Bivas Adhikari identified as a middleman.
Kolkata, Nov 7 (NationPress) The office of Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has not yet granted approval for the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Trinamool Congress legislator and former president of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education (WBBPE), Manik Bhattacharya. This information was presented by the central agency to a court in Kolkata on Friday.
The CBI's attorney also informed the special court that the Governor's office has yet to provide authorization for the chargesheet against former WBBPE secretary, Ratna Bagchi, connected to the same case.
According to established procedures, authorization for the chargesheets against Bhattacharya and Bagchi is essential since both individuals previously held official positions within an autonomous entity under the state government. The Governor's office is required to grant this authorization within three months from the date of filing.
However, the CBI's counsel advised the special court that the three-month window for the chargesheets against Bhattacharya and Bagchi is nearing its end, with the central agency hopeful of receiving approval shortly.
Bhattacharya was dismissed from his role at the WBBPE following a directive from the Calcutta High Court. Subsequently, he was apprehended and later released on bail.
While Bagchi has not faced arrest, she has been questioned multiple times by officials from both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), who are conducting concurrent investigations into the issue.
On October 3 of this year, the CBI submitted its fifth and final chargesheet in the case, which included three additional names: Manik Bhattacharya, Ratna Bagchi, and Bivas Adhikari, identified as a middleman in the recruitment scandal.
The final chargesheet details that Adhikari served as the president of an association of private Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) and Diploma in Elementary Education (DLED) colleges in the Birbhum district. He exploited this position to facilitate the hiring of candidates as primary teachers in various state-run schools in exchange for substantial payments.