Bengal job scam: CBI raids several locations linked to civic body recruitment irregularities
2 min read 07 Jun 2023, 12:42 PM ISTCBI conducts raids at multiple locations in connection with recruitment irregularities in Bengal civic bodies: Officials.
PremiumCBI on Wednesday conducted raids across several locations in West Bengal in connection with the alleged irregularities associated with recruitment in civic bodies in the state.
According to news agency PTI, CBI raids targeted 14 municipalities that included South Dum, Panihati, Kanchrapara, Cjhinsurah and Dum Dum. The report suggests that CBI even searched the offices of West Bengal Urban Development Department which is located in the Salt Lake area.
The central investigative agency has also filed a case against Ayan Sil and his company ABS Infozone Pvt ltd for allegedly manipulating the scores of aspirants. The company was involved in the printing and evaluation of OMR sheets.
The cash-for-jobs scam has been a flashpoint between the TMC-led state government and the opposition BJP. While the CBI is investigating the criminal aspect of the scam, the ED is looking into the money trail to unearth alleged irregularities in school recruitment.
The leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, had on Monday asked the Mamata Banerjee-led party why it was afraid of the CBI.
In reply, TMC leader Saugata Roy said, "We don't pay attention to what Suvendhu Adhikari says. We are not scared of CBI. In the past, Abhishek Banerjee answered all the questions asked by the Enforcement Directorate of him,"
The TMC leader also claimed that Abhishek Banerjee is ready to be hanged if he is found guilty in the case.
In a major embarrassment for the TMC, a major witness arrested by the ED in the school recruitment scam had earlier said he works for Abhishek Banerjee. Sujay Krishna Bhadra was arrested in the case on May 30 after being interrogated for 11 hours.
Speaking to the media in March, Bhadra said, “Abhishek Banerjee is my boss. I work for his company. Since Banerjee cannot be touched by anyone, the agencies are targeting other people. It won’t help,"