Santanu's close promoter arrested in teachers recruitment scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Ayan Sheel, a close aide of Trinamool leader Santanu Banerjee, late on Sunday night in famous teacher recruitment corruption case. After a 37-hour search at the flat, the ED officer arrested Ayan and returned to the CGO complex.

Three years ago, Ayan Sheel rented a house in FD Block, Salt Lake, in the name of setting up a production company. ED officials searched Ayan Sheel's rented office and adjoining living room from Saturday afternoon till late Sunday night. ED got more sensational information during the search. 

According to the Central Investigation Agency, Ayan was running the business of recruitment corruption while sitting in the office of Salt Lake.  Around 400 OMR sheets were recovered from Ayan's office. Multiple admit card copies were found. Accounts of transactions of huge amounts have been found from seven computers.  Information about ten different bank accounts has been received. Apart from the corruption of teaching and non-teaching staff, the ED has found evidence of Ayan's direct involvement in recruitment corruption in various municipalities.

According to the ED, the transaction amount could exceed Rs 60 crore. Ayan was questioned to find out how much money was involved in the transaction. The investigation is also going on regarding Ayan Sheel's conversation with Kuntal Ghosh and Santanu Banerjee regarding this corruption.  

An ED official said that after his arrest and questioning, they suspect that a huge amount of recruitment corruption money came to Ayan through various means.  That's why preparations are being made to take legal action against Ayan.  Santanu Banerjee's house and guest house were searched on Saturday and at least ten other properties of his were found. This includes some flats, which are promoted by Ayan Sheel. On Saturday night, the ED brought Ayan to the Salt Lake office and searched him.

ED has initially come to know that Ayan has been promoting at about 40 places. He has converted black money into white by producing several Tollywood films. Based on that source, ED believes that like Kuntal Ghosh, Ayan Sheel was also known to Tollywood stars. Like Kuntal, Ayan was also questioned whether he had given money to any star. The ED has recovered around 400 OMR sheets, several admit card copies, electronic documents, and other documents from inside the cupboard, under the bed, and in his office drawers.