Teachers Scam: Ayan received tip-off before ED's arrival

Ayan Sheel, a suspect in a teacher recruitment corruption case, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after receiving a message advising him to hide all suspicious documents. Upon investigation, the ED officials found several answer sheets of candidates related to teacher recruitment and appointment in Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Investigating ED officials came across some clues in this connection after recovering WhatsApp chat history from Sheel's mobile phone. Sources said one such SMS was from a mystery woman late on Friday night to Sheel, warning him of the likely arrival of ED officials at his residence.

In the message, sources said, the woman also advised Sheel to move out of the place after removing the necessary documents. The report came less than 12 hours before ED sleuths actually began raid and search operations at Sheel's residence in Salt Lake, USA. the northern outskirts of Calcutta.

Although detectives have traced details of the sender of the message as part of the investigation, they are not releasing her name at this time. Sources added that the same woman was traced to several financial transactions with Sheel. as evident from the particulars of the various bank accounts in the name of the accused-appellant.

What has heightened the suspicions among the central agency officials about the possible leak of the upcoming raid and advance search operations are the irrelevant answers given by Sheel on the matter when he was questioned on the matter.

Sometimes he claims he didn't notice the message at all, while sometimes he says he didn't attach any importance to the message. ED sleuths are planning to question this mystery woman in this matter soon.

The raid and search operation at Shila's residence opened a new dimension to the central agencies' investigation into the recruitment scam.

The ED has seized incriminating documents which reveal massive irregularities in the recruitment of staff in various municipalities in the state, which is similar in nature to the fraud in the recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff in government schools in West Bengal. .