Bengal SSC Scam: TMC Leader Partha Chatterjee To Be In ED Custody Till Monday, Raids On 14 More Locations

Of the 14 locations searched, two were found suspicious including Chatterjee’s close aide and Bangla film industry actor Arpita Mukherjee’s residence, the ED said.

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday conducted searches at 14 locations associated with West Bengal cabinet minister and former education minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with an alleged teacher recruitment scam in the state, said the enforcement agency, reported by the news agency ANI. 

Of the 14 locations searched, two were found suspicious including Chatterjee’s close aide and Bangla film industry actor Arpita Mukherjee’s residence, the ED said as per the report adding that documents recovered for her house have shown a direct link and exchange of money between the two parties. 

“Searches were conducted in 14 locations out of which two were suspicious including Arpita Mukherjee's residence. Documents recovered from her house show direct linking and exchange of money between two parties,” said the enforcement agency. 

Earlier in the day, Chatterjee was arrested by the ED along with his close aide in connection with the alleged scam after he was questioned by the agency for 26 hours. He will now be produced before the Court on Monday and will remain in ED custody till then. 

Coordinated searches were launched by the probe agency on Friday at the premises of Partha Chatterjee  who is currently the state industries and commerce minister, his aide Arpita Mukherjee, Minister of State for Education Paresh C Adhikary, MLA and ex-president of West Bengal Board of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya, and a number of other persons. 

"During the searches, the ED recovered cash amounting to approximately Rs 20 crore from the residential premises of Arpita Mukherjee, who is a close associate of Partha Chatterjee. The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the said SSC (School Service Commission) scam," the federal agency mentioned in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Chatterjee’s lawyer claimed that no special permission was sought to arrest him adding that he appeared before the agency whenever called in primary offences but no summon was issued this time. 

“No money was recovered from my client's residence and no special permission was taken to arrest him as he is a public servant. In primary offences, he has appeared whenever he was called, this time there was no summon,” minister’s advocate said.