INDIA.West Bengal: West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee is arrested today followed by lengthy hours of overnight interrogation. During interrogation, Chatterjee was non-cooperative and was seeking medical help suffering from a headache and uneasiness, doctors examined him and gave a pragmatic nod to ED. The close aide’s having links with the case are also booked under the same.
This took place after the ED raided Arpita Mukherjee’s house. Alleged Arpita Mukherjee is a close associate of Minister Chatterjee, and is also a model and actor in Bengali, Odia and Tamil film industry. The Enforcement Directorate discovered Rs 20 crore in cash, Jewelleries and ornaments of diamond, gold and silver worth Rs, 50 lakhs from the accused house.
Counting machines have been assigned for counting cash. Search teams have been allocated to Mukherjee’s house in connection with the teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal. Photos have been surfacing on the Internet showing heaps of cash in denominations of 2000 and 500 lying on the ground.
Speaker Biman Banerjee opposed the probe agency for not giving prior notice to the members of the assembly before arresting Chatterjee. He said, “The ED or CBI, while arresting any MP or MLA, has to inform the speaker of the Lok Sabha or assembly. This is the constitutional norm. But I have not received any communication from ED about Chatterjee’s arrest.”
Who is Partha Chatterjee?
Partha Chatterjee was the former state Education Minister when the scam took place. Presently he is serving as the Minister for Industries and Commerce.
What is the WBSSC Scam?
The scam is linked to the recruitment of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff, assistant teachers of class 11 along with class 11 and primary teachers. Many illegal appointments were made in government-run and aided schools by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC).
Youths got triggered by this case and The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha has planned protests across different districts of Bengal. A statement issued by ED states, ”During searches, the ED has recovered huge cash amounting to approximately Rs 20 crore from the residential premises of Arpita Mukherjee, who is a close associate of Shri Partha Chatterjee. The said amount is suspected to be the proceeds of crime of the SSC scam.”
The search team is taking the assistance of bank officials for the counting of cash through cash counting machines. A total of more than 20 mobile phones have also been recovered from the premises of Arpita Mukherjee, the purpose and use of which is being ascertained.
Taking a dig at the opposition party, Suvendu Adhikari Criticised the Mamta government. The BJP leader tweeted, “Guilty by Association” – A legal phenomenon used to describe when an individual is guilty of committing a crime through knowing someone else. Just saying. Yeh toh bas trailer hai, picture abhi baki hai…”
However, Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from Arpita Mukherjee citing that she has no links with the Party or the Ministry.
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