Bengal SSC Scam: ED Attaches Assets Worth Rs 48 Crore ‘Beneficially Owned’ By Partha Chatterjee, Aide

The attached properties include 40 immovable assets such as a farmhouse, flats and "prime land" located in Kolkata worth Rs 40.33 crore, apart from Rs 7.89 crore worth deposits in 35 bank accounts.

Former Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee

Source : PTI File Photo

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Monday attached assets worth Rupees 48 Crore “beneficially owned” by former minister Partha Chatterjee and his alleged associate Arpita Mukhejree as part of the money laundering investigation in connection with West Bengal teacher’s recruitment scam, reported news agency PTI. 

The attached properties include 40 immovable assets such as a farmhouse, flats and "prime land" located in Kolkata worth a total Rs 40.33 crore, apart from Rs 7.89 crore worth deposits kept in 35 bank accounts, the federal agency said in a statement, quoted by the news agency. 

"The attached properties are found to be beneficially owned by Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee," it added. 

ED attaches Rs 48 cr worth assets "beneficially owned" by ex-minister Partha Chatterjee, aide in Bengal teachers recruitment 'scam'

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 19, 2022

As per the enforcement agency, several of the attached properties were registered under the name of shell companies and persons acting as proxies for Chatterjee. 

The agency had seized Rs 49.80 crore cash, gold and other jewellery worth more than Rs 55 crore after it conducted raids in this case in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal.

The former minister in the TMC-led government in West Bengal and his "close associate" were arrested by the ED in July. 

On Thursday, a Sessions Court in Kolkata extended the judicial custody of Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee till August 31 over their alleged connection in the SSC recruitment scam.

As per a report by news agency ANI, they were brought to the Sessions Court earlier in the day where Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed the bail plea of Chatterjee. The court had reserved the order. 

Partha Chatterjee, who was sacked as minister and suspended from TMC last month, and his aide Arpita Mukherjee, were arrested by the ED on July 23. Chatterjee held the portfolio of the Industry Minister in Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government.