ED Raids Kolkata Over Alleged School Recruitment Irregularities

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided eight locations in Kolkata, investigating alleged irregularities in state-run and-aided school recruitments in West Bengal. The raids targeted residences, offices, and bungalows of suspected middlemen involved in the scam.

Kolkata, January 18: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive raids on Thursday in eight different locations across Kolkata and its vicinity as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the recruitment process of state-run and-aided schools in West Bengal. The raids, which commenced at approximately 6:30 am, concluded in phases throughout the evening, with the final search operation concluding around 10 pm.

Targeting Middlemen Involved in the Scam

The ED's search operations primarily focused on the residences, offices, and bungalows of individuals suspected of acting as middlemen in the recruitment scam. These middlemen allegedly facilitated the collection and transfer of illicit funds to various addresses. An ED officer involved in the investigation stated, "We are conducting raids at the residences and offices used by these middlemen to gather evidence and trace the flow of money."

Central Forces Assist in the Raids

Accompanied by a substantial contingent of central forces, ED officers initiated search operations in several areas, including New Town and Nayabad on the eastern outskirts of Kolkata, as well as Mukundapur in the southern part of the city. Family members of the alleged middlemen were also questioned during the raids.

Close Ties to Former Minister and MLA

One of the middlemen under investigation was reportedly closely associated with former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and MLA Jibon Saha, both of whom have been arrested in connection with the scam. The ED officer revealed, "One of the middlemen has accumulated properties at over 400 locations across the state, and we are diligently investigating the source of these funds. Our officers are meticulously examining bank documents and other property-related papers to uncover the truth."

Additional Middleman Identified

The ED's investigation led to the identification of another middleman involved in the irregularities, prompting search operations at his residence. During the interrogation conducted on Thursday, ED officers obtained information about an additional property belonging to one of the middlemen, leading to a subsequent raid at that location.

Properties Registered Under Different Names

The ED discovered that some of the properties were registered under the names of the middlemen, while others were registered under the names of their associates. The agency intends to conduct further investigations to ascertain the extent of their involvement in the scam.

CBI's Parallel Investigation

It is noteworthy that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also conducting a separate investigation into the school job irregularities and has identified the same middleman as a key figure in the case.

The ED's raids in Kolkata underscore the agency's commitment to combating corruption and irregularities in the education sector. By targeting middlemen and tracing the flow of illicit funds, the ED aims to bring transparency and accountability to the recruitment process in state-run and-aided schools in West Bengal.