The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, has taken decisive action in the ongoing investigation into the Teachers Recruitment Scam in the state of West Bengal. The ED has provisionally attached immovable properties valued at a staggering Rs. 230.6 Crore, which include land parcels and a flat, held in the names of Prasanna Kumar Roy, Santi Prasad Sinha, and various companies/LLPs controlled by them.
The attached properties, held in the name of Prasanna Kumar Roy, encompass approximately 96 Cottah in Patharghata, around 117 Cottah in Sultanpur, roughly 282 Cottah in Maheshtala, and about 136 Cottah in New Town. Meanwhile, the properties held in the name of Santi Prasad Sinha consist of a benami flat situated in Bengal Ambuja Housing, Purba Jadabpur, Kolkata, and two land parcels located in Kapashati.
The ED’s investigation was initiated based on two FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which alleged various sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These FIRs revolve around the illegal appointment of Assistant Teachers in Class IX-X and Class XI-XII, where undeserving, non-listed, and low-ranked candidates were allegedly favored over deserving and genuine candidates. The appointments were purportedly made without adhering to fairness and in criminal conspiracy by multiple individuals, in violation of relevant rules.
The CBI charge sheets revealed that a total of 2081 candidates (1135 for Classes IX-X and 946 for Classes XI-XII) were illegally appointed/recommended for the post of Assistant Teachers by officials of the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (WBCSSC) in collusion with others.
Prasanna Kumar Roy, identified as the main middleman involved in the alleged collection of money and details from candidates, and Santi Prasad Sinha, the former Advisor of WBCSSC, have been arrested by the ED and are currently in judicial custody.
In addition to this case, the ED has also attached/seized properties worth Rs. 135 Crore in another instance of the Primary Teachers Recruitment Scam in West Bengal. The total attachment/seizure in Teachers Recruitment Scams in the state now amounts to a staggering Rs. 365.60 Crore.
As the investigation progresses, the ED continues its efforts to uncover the truth behind these scams and bring those responsible to justice, highlighting the agency’s commitment to combating corruption and malpractice in the education sector.
