The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the alleged teachers’ recruitment scam in West Bengal, focusing on Prasanna Roy, a key figure believed to be the middleman. On Thursday, an ED team conducted raids at various locations associated with Roy, targeting his residence in Newtown and office in West Bengal’s Balaka Abasan.
Prasanna Roy, who had previously been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2022 in connection with the scam, is alleged to have close ties with Shanti Prasad Singh, the head of the SSC recruitment advisory committee. Despite being granted bail by the Supreme Court following his arrest, Roy continues to be a focal point in the ongoing investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate’s latest action comes as part of the broader examination into corruption and irregularities surrounding teachers’ recruitment. The central investigative agency uncovered Roy’s involvement while probing two alleged cases of recruitment corruption.
This is not the first instance of authorities cracking down on individuals linked to the teachers’ recruitment scam. In December of the previous year, the Enforcement Directorate carried out raids at nine locations in Kolkata. The operation targeted the residences and offices of various individuals, including chartered accountants, businessmen, and others associated with the scam.
The scandal, which implicated former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several Trinamool functionaries and officials from the state education department, has prompted both the ED and the CBI to delve into the alleged irregularities. Their investigations were initiated following a directive from the Calcutta High Court.
As the ED intensifies its efforts to unearth the truth behind the Bengal teacher’s recruitment scam, these developments underscore the government’s commitment to addressing corruption and ensuring transparency in the recruitment processes within the education sector.