The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has intensified its probe into the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, focusing on the role of 132 alleged recommenders who facilitated illegal appointments in exchange for hefty sums.
This development comes after a charge sheet was filed against former state education minister Partha Chatterjee and Sujay Krishna Bhadra.
According to CBI sources, a list of 132 individuals suspected of recommending ineligible candidates for teaching positions has been prepared. These recommenders allegedly received a percentage of the illegal transaction amounts as commission. While the identities of these individuals have not yet been disclosed, sources at CBI’s office at Nizam Palace have confirmed that notices have been issued to them.
“We have planned to summon these suspects in phases to record their statements and uncover further details of the scam,” said a CBI officer.
Chatterjee, also the former Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) general secretary, was arrested in connection with the scam. Alongside him Bhadra and several others, including Kuntal Ghosh and former School Service Commission’s (SSC) advisor Shantiprasad Sinha, were also taken into custody. Investigators have already collected voice samples of Bhadra and Ghosh as part of the ongoing probe.
CBI’s investigation has revealed a complex network of agents and intermediaries who played a pivotal role in manipulating the recruitment process. During Chatterjee's tenure as education minister, it was alleged that lists of ineligible candidates were circulated through various channels to Sinha, who was a key figure in the recruitment process. In exchange for substantial bribes, the names of ineligible candidates were inserted into the final selection lists, replacing those of eligible aspirants.
The magnitude of the scam has posed significant challenges for the CBI, with investigators admitting that the entire conspiracy is yet to be unraveled. Multiple raids and search operations have been conducted at various locations to gather evidence and identify other individuals involved.
As the CBI continues its investigation, the focus now shifts to interrogating the 132 recommenders and decoding the financial trail of corruption that has left a deep scar on West Bengal's educational sector.
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