Bengal teachers’ recruitment scam: PMLA court sends Santi Prasad Sinha to ED custody till April 8 | India News

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has made a significant breakthrough in the Assistant Teachers Recruitment scam associated with the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). Santi Prasad Sinha, the former Advisor of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBCSSC), has been arrested in connection with the scam. Sinha was presented before the special court (PMLA) in Kolkata, where the court granted ED custody for five days until April 8, 2024.
This arrest follows the earlier apprehension of Prasanna Kumar Roy, the primary middleman implicated in the collection of illicit funds and candidate details, on February 19, 2024. Roy is currently in judicial custody.

Investigations have revealed a nefarious scheme in which undeserving candidates were unlawfully appointed or recommended for Assistant Teacher positions for Classes IX to XII. This illicit activity was orchestrated through a criminal conspiracy involving officials of the WBCSSC, Prasanna Kumar Roy, and other individuals.

Earlier in January the ED officials raided Roy’s luxurious bungalow apart from his Balaka Abasan residence and seized three-trunks full of documents. The ED claimed that they have got hold of 492 deeds during the raids. Of the seized deeds, 392 deeds were seized from his office. The properties were purchased between 2016 and 2021 and the value of the property was allegedly lowered during the purchase.
Roy, who has allegedly been linked to more than 90 companies, owns a travel company in Newtown and a hotel nearby. He had also invested in at least two films. He had also invested in a mining and quarrying company. At least two wholesale companies are also listed in his name. Roy was a director in at least 81 companies till 2018. The agency also submitted in the court that nearly 200 bank accounts were used to launder money.