West Bengal’s industry minister was arrested earlier in the day
Team News Riveting
Kolkata, July 23
West Bengal’s ruling party Trinamool Congress (TMC) today hinted it was in no hurry to take action against industry minister Partha Chatterjee who was arrested by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a recruitment scam.
Attending a press conference, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh made it clear that no disciplinary action would be taken against Chatterjee unless he was found guilty and the verdict was passed. “We have full faith in judiciary and let law take its own course,” said Ghosh.
Earlier in the day, ED arrested Chatterjee in connection with the ongoing investigations into alleged irregularities in recruitment of teachers and other staff for government-aided schools after he was grilled for over 24 hours amid search operations across the state. The Bengal industry minister was taken to the court after undergoing a medical examination at ESI Hospital in Joka.
The economic vigilance agency also arrested his close aide Arpita Mukherjee after the probe agency officials seized Rs 21 crore and jewelleries in crore from her premises.
On the direction of High Court, the CBI is looking into the alleged irregularities committed in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission. The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam.
Chatterjee, currently industries and commerce minister, held the education portfolio when the scam was allegedly pulled off. He was interrogated by the CBI twice, once on April 26 and then on May18
According to reports, Chatterjee has been admitted to the SSKM Hospital.
