New Evidence Emerges Against Four SSC Officials in Bengal Job Scandal
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Synopsis
New evidence has surfaced implicating four former officials from the West Bengal education department in a cash-for-job scandal, revealing their connections to a middleman and prompting parallel investigations by both the ED and CBI.
Key Takeaways
- Four former officials implicated in job scandal.
- ED has gathered new evidence against them.
- Connections to a middleman detailed in charge sheet.
- Trial commenced under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
- CBI also investigating the case.
Kolkata, Feb 3 (NationPress) New challenges are arising for four former senior officials from various sectors of the West Bengal education department. These individuals have been implicated in a cash-for-job scandal, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovering additional evidence of their direct involvement in the alleged financial irregularities.
According to sources, the ED has documented its latest findings in a supplementary charge sheet submitted to a special court in Kolkata on the evening of February 1.
The accused officials include Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay, the former president of the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE), as well as S Bhattacharya, the former chairman of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) and ex-vice-chancellor of the University of North Bengal, along with Ashok Kumar Saha, the previous secretary of WBSSC.
Insiders have indicated that the recent supplementary charge sheet by the ED outlines the connections between these four officials, particularly Sinha, and the alleged middleman Prasanna Roy.
The trial pertaining to the ED's investigation, filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), commenced last month within a special court in Kolkata.
In addition to the ED's efforts, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has also launched a concurrent investigation into the case.
Subsequent charge sheets issued by the ED have identified a total of 53 accused individuals, which includes 29 persons and 24 corporate entities and trusts.
Apart from these four officials, notable figures implicated include the former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, his associate Arpita Mukherjee, and his son-in-law Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, among others.
The Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, named after Chatterjee's late wife, has also been designated as an accused entity in the ED's charge sheet. Allegations suggest that illicit funds were misrepresented as donations to this trust, thereby being misappropriated.
