JNS: Enforcement Directorate seized approximately 20 crore rupees, cash from the residential premises of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of Partha Chatterjee, TMC Minister, West Bengal, during a raid in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in the state.
“The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the said SSC scam. Apart from this, the probe agency also raided the premises of Minister of State for Education Paresh C Adhikary and ex-president of West Bengal Board of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya and others,” ED said in a statement.
The search teams took the help of bank officials for counting cash through machines. More than 20 mobile phones have also been seized during the raids at the premises of Arpita, it said.
PK Bandopadhyay, OSD to Partha Chatterjee then state education minister earlier, and his then personal secretary Sukanta Acharjee were also raided by the anti-corruption police.
A number of incriminating documents, records, details of dubious companies, electronic devices, foreign currency and gold have been recovered from the premises of persons linked to the scam.
An FIR was filed by the CBI, which was initially directed by the Calcutta High Court to investigate the alleged scam in the recruitment of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff, assistant teachers of classes 11, and primary teachers. This led to the investigation that led to the money-laundering case being investigated by the ED.
