Getting a government job for many Indians is the ultimate goal. But what is the price? Merit is not the criteria in several places, it's kickbacks. In West Bengal's SSC scam involving the now Industries Minister Partha Chatterjee, the alleged kickbacks run into at least Rs 50 crore.
More skeletons are tumbling out of the closet in the West Bengal government teacher recruitment scam. And it is not good news for Partha Chatterjee and the incumbent Mamata Banerjee-led state government.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Hugh amount of cash, amounting to at least Rs 15 Crores, recovered from the residence of Arpita Mukherjee at Belgharia.
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2022
She is a close aide of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee. pic.twitter.com/7MMFsjzny1
The ED has been following the money trail in the case and the CBI is unravelling the nexus. The investigation has uncovered more damning details:
West Bengal | Huge amount of cash recovered from the residence of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, at Belgharia Town Club. Rs 15 Crores counted so far, further recovery of money is expected. pic.twitter.com/MY2vtTx5jg
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2022
WB SSC recruitment scam | North 24-Parganas: ED officials leave the Belgharia residence of Arpita Mukherjee, close aide of WB Minister Partha Chatterjee, after filling 10 trunks with cash amounting to approx Rs 29cr found there; a total of Rs 40cr found from her premises so far. pic.twitter.com/t9gEIHyb08
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2022
West Bengal | ED officials leave from the residence of businessman Manoj Jain in Ballygunge, after conducting a raid here.
— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2022
Jain is reportedly an aide of state minister Partha Chatterjee. pic.twitter.com/7Kav9u1yZW
Arpita Mukherjee's revelations: According to the ED, Arpita Mukherjee has been cooperative in the interrogation while Partha Chatterjee has been evasive.
3 flats and Rs. 21 crore were recovered from Arpita Mukherjee. On the other hand, professor Monalisa Das has 10 flats in Santiniketan. pic.twitter.com/LuqMorAD49
— Dilip Ghosh (@DilipGhoshBJP) July 23, 2022
Recap: The SSC scam in West Bengal has exposed the corrupt fault lines in the incumbent state government, even as the party leaders try to distance themselves from those involved. Partha Chatterjee, a minister in Mamata Banerjee's government, holds several portfolios right now. The scam reportedly took place when he was the Education Minister of West Bengal.
Each of those bundle of notes from the house of confidantes of Partha Chatterjee being recovered has a story, procured by jobless desperate people through loans and exhausting their savings, and handed over in the hope of a job that was never going to be given.
— Arnab Ray (@greatbong) July 27, 2022
Chatterjee is also an important leader in the ruling TMC party. He is considered to be No 3 in command and a close associate of CM Mamata Banerjee. He also holds sway over the members of the party. After his arrest by the ED, he reportedly tried to contact Banerjee thrice but in vain.
Arpita Mukherjee, the second person prominently involved in the case, is an actor and has appeared in some Bengali and Odia TV series and films. She was reportedly introduced to Chatterjee in 2016 by another actor and has been a close associate of the minister since then. Mukherjee was reportedly the face of a famous Durga Puja committee run by Partha Chatterjee.