ED Resumes Probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a fresh wave of actions in connection with the significant teacher recruitment scam that has cast a shadow
over West Bengal's education sector. Recently, officials from the ED conducted searches at the Kolkata residence of Partha Chatterjee, an influential former minister of education in the state. This move signals a renewed focus on unraveling the intricacies of the alleged irregularities that occurred during his leadership. The agency's investigation isn't limited to Chatterjee's premises alone; simultaneous searches are also underway at an office associated with Prasanna Kumar Roy, another individual implicated in the scam and currently in judicial custody. These actions underscore the ED's commitment to pursuing all leads and individuals involved in the widespread recruitment irregularities that have come to light.
Chatterjee's Past Involvement
Partha Chatterjee, a former heavyweight in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, was initially arrested by the ED on July 23, 2022. His arrest stemmed from allegations of involvement in a multi-crore school jobs scam that reportedly took place while he held the position of state education minister. At the time of his apprehension, he was also serving as the state's minister for industries. The ED's extensive searches conducted in 2022 yielded a substantial recovery of over Rs 50 crore from the flat of his associate, Arpita Mukherjee. This significant discovery led to the TMC taking swift action, removing Chatterjee from all his official party positions and suspending him from the party for a period of six years. After navigating the legal process and securing bail in all the cases filed against him, Chatterjee was eventually released from jail on November 11 of the previous year.
Current Status and Broader Investigation
Since his release from jail, Partha Chatterjee has been residing at his Naktala residence in South Kolkata and has maintained a low profile, remaining uninvolved in political activities. The TMC has also indicated that he will not be considered for a ticket in the upcoming 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. The ED's recent actions are part of a more extensive intensification of its probe into various corruption cases that have surfaced across West Bengal. In addition to the searches at Chatterjee's home, the agency has also summoned TMC MLAs Sujit Bose and Rathin Ghosh for questioning. While Sujit Bose did not appear in person, his son, Samudra Bose, attended the ED's office on his father's behalf, highlighting the wide net the investigation is casting across political figures.
