West Bengal: ED attaches Rs 163 crore worth assets in WBSSC recruitment 'scam' case
Times of India | 27 October 2024
NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets worth over Rs 163 crore belonging to Prasanna Kumar Roy, identified as the "main middleman," in connection with an investigation into recruitment irregularities by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). This is the latest action in ongoing probes into alleged scams involving group C and D category staff recruitment by WBSSC.
Earlier, the ED had attached properties valued at Rs 230.6 crore linked to assistant teachers' recruitment and Rs 151 crore linked to primary teachers' recruitment.
In a recent statement, the ED announced the provisional attachment of five hotels and resorts, 230 land parcels, and 17 flats and shops under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). These assets belong to Roy, his wife Kajal Soni Roy, and Shree Durga Dealcom Pvt. Ltd., a company controlled by Roy. The total value is estimated at Rs 163.20 crore.
The attached properties include Chalankita Resort in Howrah, Royal Bengal Resort in the Sunderbans, Hotel Mili in Digha, Hotel Murti in Jalpaiguri, and Bamboo Village Resort in Alipurduar.
The money laundering investigation follows a CBI FIR and charge sheets that allege the "illegal appointment of Group 'C' and 'D' employees by offering appointment to the undeserving, non-listed, and below-ranked candidates and consequently depriving the deserving and genuine candidates.
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According to the ED, the appointments were made through a criminal conspiracy by various individuals, bypassing necessary rules.
The CBI charge sheets report that a total of 3,432 employees (1,125 for group 'C' and 2,307 for group 'D') were appointed or recommended "illegally" by WBSSC officials in conspiracy with others.
Roy and former WBSSC advisor Santi Prasad Sinha have been arrested in connection with the assistant teachers' recruitment case and are currently in judicial custody.