Four ministers in the Mamata Banerjee-led government in the state and several councillors are on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) investigating the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. The anti-money laundering agency has also seized a black diary from Arpita Mukherjee’s residence in the raids which has entries on the SSC. The diary may lead to more revelations, said sources close to the investigations.
The arrest memo filed by the ED in the Kolkata High Court has Mamata Banerjee’s name added to it. According
to ED officials, Partha Chatterjee, the prime accused in the scam, had called chief minister four times the day he was arrested by the central agency on charges of money laundering. Mamata, however, did not respond to any of his calls.
Breaking her silence over charges of rampant corruption in her government in the wake of the arrests made by ED, Mamata on Monday said, “I don’t support corruption. I get Rs. 1 lakh pension from Parliament and Rs. 2 lakh as a state MLA. Now count how much money I have made in the last 11 years. I have not taken a single penny besides this. My service is voluntary. Friends, I am sad and disheartened at the attitude of some political party in the last two days.” Mamata also condemned the “malicious campaign” against her by CPI (M) and BJP. She further said, “People do make mistakes. Making mistakes is also a right. If someone has been involved in wrong activities, none of us will interfere no matter how harsh a verdict they face. We will not support them.”
Meanwhile, several councillors’ names have come up during Arpita’s cross-examination by ED interrogators. One among them is the name of a councillor of Naktala area, which is home to Partha. According to ED sources, money was coming to Arpita through Hawala from several councillors. Arpita is also found to be associated with four ministers in the Mamata government. The ED will now investigate the ministers and councillors, said the sources.
WB Bengal Commerce and Industries Minister Partha was arrested on Saturday, along with his aide Arpita, in the SSC scam case. Both Partha and Arpita were arrested after the ED recovered Rs. 21 cr from Arpita’s residence in a raid.
Partha is accused of making illegal appointments of schoolteachers and staff members in government-run schools when he was state education minister.