The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has made another breakthrough in the ongoing investigation of the Teacher Recruitment Scam in West Bengal. Santanu Banerjee, who was alleged to be a key player in the scandal, has been arrested by the ED.
The accused appeared before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Calcutta on 11.03.2023, where he was remanded to the ED custody till 24/3/2023.
The accused was allegedly acting as a middleman in the illegal qualification and appointment of primary teachers, Group ‘C’ & ‘D’ staff of government schools in West Bengal. He was working with Kuntal Ghosh, who is currently in judicial custody for the same offense.
Banerjee has also purchased several properties in the name of his family members and companies/firms using the proceeds of crime.
This latest arrest comes after the ED had earlier arrested Partha Chatterjee, MLA and the then Education Minister of West Bengal; Ms. Arpita Mukherjee, Manik Bhattacharya, MLA and the Ex-President of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education; and Kuntal Ghosh in connection with the same scandal. All the accused persons are currently in judicial custody.
The ED has already seized cash totaling Rs. 49.80 Crore and gold & jewelry valued at more than Rs. 5.08 Crore. They have also provisionally attached properties worth Rs. 48.22 Crore in the case. The total seizure and attachment stand at Rs. 111 Crore in the case so far.
The investigation is ongoing, and the Enforcement Directorate is leaving no stone unturned to bring all the culprits to justice. It is a significant development in the fight against corruption in the education sector in West Bengal. The efforts of the Directorate of Enforcement undoubtedly serve as a deterrent to anyone involved in such illegal activities in the future.
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