West Bengal School Jobs Case: Two More 'Confidential Statements' Expected Soon
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Synopsis
The ongoing investigation into the West Bengal school job scandal sees two more individuals set to record their confidential statements, potentially revealing critical information in this multi-crore case. The Enforcement Directorate is parallelly probing alongside the CBI.
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals to record statements.
- ED and CBI are investigating.
- Identities remain confidential.
- Bhattacharya seeks approver status.
- Trust involved in money laundering allegations.
Kolkata, March 22 (NationPress) The confidential statements of two additional individuals linked to the multi-crore cash-for-school-job scandal in West Bengal may be recorded before judicial magistrates within this month.
The provisional dates for these recordings are set for March 26 and March 31.
Sources indicate that both individuals have shown a willingness to the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is conducting a parallel investigation alongside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to have their confidential statements documented.
For confidentiality, ED officials are keeping the identities of these individuals under wraps. It remains uncertain whether they are to be classified as approvers like Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, the son-in-law of former West Bengal education minister and ex-Trinamool Congress secretary general, Partha Chatterjee.
It is also unclear if these individuals have been referred to as accused or witnesses in the ED's subsequent charge sheets concerning the school job case.
Earlier this week, Bhattacharya, who sought to become an approver, had his confidential statement recorded at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's court in Kolkata.
A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in Kolkata later approved his plea for exemption from being classified as an accused in this case.
Previously, the ED had included Bhattacharya as an accused in their charge sheets.
Bhattacharya was part of the trustee board of the Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, named after the late wife of Partha Chatterjee.
The main accusation against the trust is that funds received from the school-job cases were disguised as donations to the trust, which were subsequently used to acquire property in the trust's name.
The trial process for this matter has already commenced at the special court under the PMLA in Kolkata. While Chatterjee has been granted bail in the ED's case, he remains incarcerated due to a concurrent case filed against him by the CBI.
