Teachers recruitment scam: ED arrests TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya in the early hours of Tuesday (October 11) after night-long questioning in connection with the irregularities in the recruitment of primary teachers, said officials.

Bhattacharya, the former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, was arrested for allegedly not cooperating with the investigation, they said.

“Mr. Bhattacharya has been arrested for his continued non-cooperation with the investigators during questioning, which began on Monday (October 10) afternoon. He also tried to misdirect the investigators,” an ED officer told PTI.

Also Read: Bengal teachers hiring scam: ED attaches over ₹46 cr assets of ex-min Partha Chatterjee, aide

He is the MLA of Palashipara in Nadia district of West Bengal.

Earlier, the Supreme Court granted Bhattacharya “protection” from being arrested by the CBI, which is also investigating the case.

The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam, while the CBI is looking into the alleged irregularities committed in the recruitment.

It is alleged that several people who fared poorly in the recruitment examinations were hired as teachers in exchange for lakhs of rupees, while the eligible candidates were overlooked.

Also Read: School jobs scam: ED seeks info on teachers appointment from Bengal education body

In July, the ED arrested former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee in the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam.

(With inputs from agencies)