ED Conducts New Raid at Partha Chatterjee's Home Ahead of Bengal Elections
Synopsis
In a significant move ahead of the Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has raided the residence of former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee. This follows ongoing investigations into the school teacher recruitment scandal, highlighting the agency's commitment to pursuing accountability.
Key Takeaways
ED raids Partha Chatterjee's residence in Naktala.
Chatterjee is under investigation for the school teacher recruitment scandal .
Significant findings were made during Chatterjee's arrest in 2022.
Chatterjee's bail was delayed due to legal stipulations.
Other political figures are also being questioned by the ED.
Kolkata, April 11 (NationPress) On Saturday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) executed another raid at the home of former West Bengal education minister and ex-Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee, located in south Kolkata.
In the early hours of Saturday, the ED arrived at Partha's residence in Naktala with a substantial team of central forces. There are indications that the former minister is set to face questioning once more regarding the school teacher recruitment scandal ahead of the Assembly elections. Following his release on bail, the ED had issued multiple summons to him, yet Partha reportedly failed to appear, citing health issues.
This likely prompted the central agency to visit his residence for questioning this time around.
In a related development, an ED team also arrived at Prasanna Roy's office in New Town, where ongoing raids are taking place. Prasanna is identified as one of the alleged 'middlemen' implicated in the recruitment case.
As per reports, the ED team reached Prasanna's office shortly before 11 a.m. on Saturday. Sources reveal that Partha claimed he was unwell and suggested the ED could question him via video call if necessary. He also mentioned he could be interrogated at home, which likely led to the ED's raid in Naktala soon after.
It is worth noting that the former education minister was arrested by the ED in July 2022, in connection with the alleged multi-crore SSC teacher recruitment scam. On the day of his arrest, the ED discovered ₹20 crore in cash at the residence of his close associate, Arpita Mukherjee, who was also arrested in this case. Mukherjee received bail in 2024.
In September of the previous year, the Calcutta High Court granted bail to Chatterjee. However, his immediate release was delayed due to a directive from the Supreme Court, which stated that he could only be released after the trial court completed the examination of material witnesses within two months. He was finally released from judicial custody on November 11.
Meanwhile, Sujit Bose, a state minister and Trinamool Congress leader, saw his son Samudra Bose appear before ED officials at their CGO Complex office in Salt Lake, in relation to the recruitment case concerning state municipalities.
Point of View
The implications of these investigations could have far-reaching effects on both local governance and public trust.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What prompted the ED's raid on Partha Chatterjee?
The ED's raid was prompted by Chatterjee's failure to appear for questioning regarding the school teacher recruitment scandal, despite multiple summons.
What is the significance of the school teacher recruitment case?
The case involves allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the recruitment process, affecting numerous prospective teachers in West Bengal.
What was discovered during Chatterjee's arrest in 2022?
During Chatterjee's arrest, the ED uncovered ₹20 crore in cash at the residence of his associate, Arpita Mukherjee, who was also arrested.
What legal challenges did Chatterjee face after his arrest?
After his arrest, Chatterjee was granted bail by the Calcutta High Court, but his release was delayed due to a Supreme Court directive.
Who else is involved in the ongoing investigation?
State minister Sujit Bose's son, Samudra Bose, has also appeared before the ED in connection with the recruitment case.
