Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday was questioned for over 11 hours by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged primary school recruitment
scam.
Banerjee, who is also the MP from Diamond Harbour, appeared at the ED’s CGO Complex office shortly before 11 am following a summons issued in a money laundering probe linked to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of primary school teachers. The questioning ended around 10:15 pm.
VIDEO | Kolkata: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee reaches ED’s Kolkata office for questioning in irregularities in primary school job scam case. pic.twitter.com/0vfeR74rqZ
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 15, 2026
The ED had reportedly prepared a list of around two dozen questions for Banerjee. An official said the entire interrogation was videographed and documented, and the material will be cross-checked with other evidence and statements of accused persons arrested in the case.
“There were two breaks during the session. He was confronted with financial documents, digital records and statements from other accused persons to trace the alleged proceeds of crime,” the official said.
According to the official, the agency’s primary focus is on the money trail. “Who handled funds, how they moved across accounts and entities, and whether these transactions were layered to conceal their origin are key aspects we are examining,” he said. The ED will also seek clarifications on “inconsistencies observed between earlier submissions and fresh materials recovered during searches”.
Officials added that Monday’s questioning also covered the role of intermediaries and beneficiary entities flagged during forensic analysis. “We have obtained bank records and communication data indicating the involvement of multiple fronts. Today’s examination aims to reconcile those data points with Mr Banerjee’s version,” the official said.
Speaking to reporters outside the ED office after the session, Banerjee said he had fully cooperated with the central agency. “In the past, I have cooperated with the investigating agencies, be it CBI or the ED. I did the same thing today. If they call me again, I will surely come,” he said.
When asked whether he believed the ruling BJP had any role in the ED issuing summons to him, Banerjee refrained from a direct accusation but hinted at political motives. “The less you talk about the BJP, the better. I will also not speak whether there is any political pressure or not, but surely these are attempts to destroy the opposition forces,” he said.
He further alleged a sustained effort to silence critics in the state. “There has been a sustained attempt over the past month to intimidate, weaken, and suppress opposition forces that refuse to bow down, and to create an opposition-free West Bengal,” Banerjee claimed.
VIDEO | Kolkata, West Bengal: “The BJP has been trying to break political parties and threaten opposition leaders over the past one month,” says TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee after his questioning by the ED in connection with the primary school jobs scam case.
(Full video… pic.twitter.com/khQv8tTq2T
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 15, 2026
The ED has already questioned several individuals in connection with the alleged recruitment scam, including former minister Chandranath Sinha.
Monday’s grilling came just a day after Banerjee underwent nearly eight and a half hours of questioning by the state CID in a separate case involving the alleged forgery of MLAs’ signatures on documents related to the appointment of the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly.
The TMC leader is scheduled to appear again before state CID officers on Tuesday.
