CBI Swings into Action, Raids 7 Locations in West Bengal over SSC Teacher Hiring

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) carried out searches at seven locations in West Bengal related to the SSC teacher recruitment case. The West Bengal SSC recruitment scam revolves around irregularities in teacher recruitment and gained attention after the arrest of prominent Bengal BJP leader Partha Chatterjee. Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress leader and former education minister in Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, was arrested on July 23, 2022.

The investigation into the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam involves Partha Chatterjee and his associate Arpita Mukherjee. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also taken action, arresting several individuals, including Chatterjee, Mukherjee, TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya, and TMC youth wing leaders Kuntal Ghosh and Santanu Banerjee. The ED has filed multiple charge sheets under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Following his arrest, Partha Chatterjee was suspended by the Trinamool Congress.

In September, the ED summoned Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the alleged recruitment scam. The ED had earlier conducted raids at the office of ‘Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd,’ accusing the company of engaging in dubious transactions amounting to crores of rupees. Last year, the ED filed a prosecution complaint against eight individuals, including Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee, in the Teachers Recruitment Scam in West Bengal under the PMLA.