The Calcutta High Court has directed the CBI to probe an alleged scam municipality recruitment in west bengalTaking note of the findings of the Enforcement Directorate during its investigation school job for bribery scam,
The ED told the High Court that common agents like Ayan Sil, arrested in connection with school jobs for bribery scam, were also involved in alleged illegalities in the recruitment of clerks, sweepers, peons, drivers etc. in various municipalities in West Bengal.
“I direct the CBI to investigate the municipality recruitment scam in which there are common agents like Ayan Sil and common beneficiaries and the victims in both the cases (i.e. education scam and municipality recruitment scam) are public/common people at large,” Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay said in the order.
In the order passed on April 21, he directed that if necessary, the CBI may register an FIR to probe the matter relating to the alleged municipality recruitment scam, which was highlighted by the court through an application filed by the ED. Justice Gangopadhyay directed the West Bengal DGP and the state’s chief secretary to inform all departments concerned to help and assist the CBI and ED in their functioning while probing the alleged scam in municipal recruitments, as requested by the central agencies. Give instructions
The court directed the CBI to file a report on April 28 to inform about the steps taken on the basis of this order.
The ED, while filing the application, said that the alleged scam in municipal recruitment in this state came to the notice during the investigation of money transaction in teacher appointment scam.
The ED said that the alleged municipal recruitment scam would require a separate FIR to be probed by a prescriptive agency (namely CBI) under relevant provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The ED further stated that due to the conflation between the proceeds of crime of the teachers’ recruitment scam and the alleged irregularities in municipal recruitment and since the CBI is probing the school jobs for the bribery scam, the ED has approached the CBI with a request. Detailed information was shared with. to check the latter as well.