What Does the ED's Charge Sheet Against Bengal Minister Reveal About a Rs 1.5 Crore Transaction?
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Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha, revealing suspicious transactions worth Rs 1.5 crore related to a school recruitment probe. The implications for Sinha, a key member of Mamata Banerjee's cabinet, raise serious questions about corruption in the educational sector. Read on for the full story.
Key Takeaways
- ED's charge sheet details Rs 1.5 crore transactions.
- Chandranath Sinha is implicated in recruitment irregularities.
- Investigation raises concerns about corruption in education.
- Sinha has avoided questioning by the ED on multiple occasions.
- Search operations yielded significant cash and evidence.
Kolkata, Aug 8 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered fraudulent transactions totaling Rs 1.5 crore in two bank accounts belonging to West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha as part of its investigation into the hiring of primary teachers in state-run schools.
The ED has submitted a charge sheet that highlights the irregularities in the recruitment process, implicating the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Textiles in the cabinet of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Details of these transactions were included in the charge sheet filed against Sinha in a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) earlier this week.
According to the charge sheet, these dubious transactions, primarily inward remittances, occurred between 2016 and 2021, coinciding with the peak of the multi-crore cash-for-school job scandal in West Bengal.
Sources familiar with the investigation stated that although Sinha has been questioned regarding these transactions before, he failed to provide satisfactory explanations.
Sinha is the second Minister in the Bengal government to face a charge sheet from the ED in this case, following the former West Bengal Education Minister and ex-Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee.
He has avoided appearing before the ED on two occasions.
On Thursday, Sinha unexpectedly showed up at the ED office, but it remains unclear if he was interrogated.
In response to the charge sheet’s filing regarding the primary recruitment case, Sinha acknowledged having heard about it.
The ED first identified the Minister from the diary of a middleman and now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Kuntal Ghosh, who was subsequently arrested by the agency.
In March of the previous year, ED officials executed raids at the Minister's residence in Bolpur, Birbhum district, where they seized Rs 41 lakh in cash and a mobile phone.
Sinha is known to be closely associated with Anubrata Mondal, a prominent Trinamool Congress figure and former district president in Birbhum. He was first summoned by the ED for questioning related to the multi-crore cattle-smuggling case last March but was not included in the associated charge sheet.
Point of View
It’s crucial to approach this developing story with a commitment to uncovering the truth. The allegations against Minister Sinha highlight significant concerns regarding corruption within the state’s recruitment processes. The ED's ongoing investigation serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in governance.
NationPress
19/08/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the charge against Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha?
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against Minister Chandranath Sinha for involvement in fraudulent transactions totaling Rs 1.5 crore related to the recruitment of primary teachers.
How did the ED identify the transactions?
The ED identified the transactions through a diary belonging to Kuntal Ghosh, a middleman and now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader.
What actions has the ED taken against Sinha?
The ED has filed a charge sheet and conducted searches at Sinha's residence, where they seized cash and other items.
What is the significance of this investigation?
This investigation highlights issues of corruption in the recruitment of teachers in West Bengal, raising concerns about governance and accountability.
Has Sinha responded to the allegations?
Sinha has acknowledged hearing about the charge sheet but has not provided satisfactory explanations regarding the transactions.
