ED summons TMC leader Jiban Krishna Saha for questioning in teacher job scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a summons to Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Jiban Krishna Saha for questioning in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam. Saha has been asked to appear before ED officials at the agency's Calcutta office on Monday at 11 am.

Saha was previously arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 17, 2023, from his residence in Baarwan about the multi-crore jobs scam but was later released. The scam gained widespread attention following the CBI's arrest of former state education minister Partha Chatterjee and several officials from the West Bengal School Service Commission in July 2022, accused of involvement in illegal teacher recruitment.

In one of the significant developments of the investigation, the ED conducted raids on the residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of Partha Chatterjee, in Kolkata. During the raid, the ED seized approximately Rs 21 crore in cash and jewelry worth over Rs 1 crore.

Both the CBI and ED are investigating the alleged irregularities in the recruitment process for Group C and D staff, as well as teachers in government-run and aided schools across West Bengal. The case has highlighted extensive corruption and malpractices within the state's education system, raising questions about the integrity of public service recruitment.