West Bengal: ED attaches assets worth Rs 163 crore in WBSSC recruitment ‘scam’ case

NEW DELHI: The Executive direction (Ed) attached assets worth over 163 million lei that belong to him Prasanna Kumar Royidentified as the “principal intermediary”, in connection with an investigation into recruitment irregularities by West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). This is the latest action in the ongoing investigations into the alleged scam involving the recruitment of C and D staff by WBSSC.
Earlier, the ED had attached properties valued at Rs 230.6 million related to the recruitment of assistant teachers and Rs 151 million related to the recruitment of primary teachers.
In a recent statement, the ED announced the provisional attachment of five hotels and resorts, 230 plots and 17 apartments and shops under the Prevention 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 163.20 million lei.
The attached properties include Chalankita Resort in Howrah, Royal Bengal Resort in Sunderbans, Hotel Mili in Digha, Hotel Murti in Jalpaiguri and Bamboo Village Resort in Alipurduar.
The money laundering investigation follows a CBI BIND and chargesheets alleging “illegal appointment of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees by giving appointment to undeserving, unlisted and under-ranked candidates and thereby depriving deserving and genuine candidates”.
According to the ED, the appointments were made through a criminal conspiracy by various individuals bypassing the necessary rules.
The CBI chargesheets report that a total of 3,432 employees (1,125 for Group ‘C’ and 2,307 for Group ‘D’) were ‘illegally’ appointed or recommended by WBSSC officials in conspiracy with others.
Roy and former WBSSC councilor Santi Prasad Sinha were arrested in connection with the assistant teachers recruitment case and are currently in judicial custody.