CBI files chargesheet against 16 in teacher recruitment scam

Ten candidates who were illegally appointed have been named as well

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a chargesheet against 16 persons, including former Minister Partha Chatterjee, in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam. 

Santi Prasad Sinha, advisor at WBSSC; Samarjit Acharya, then programme officer WBSSC; Saumitra Sarkar, chairman of WBSSC; Ashok Kumar Saha, then assistant secretary at WBSSC; and Kalyanmoy Ganguly, then president of Adhoc Committee at West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, have also been named in the chargesheet filed before the special CBI Court, Alipore on Friday.

Mr. Sinha, Mr. Saha, Mr. Ganguly and Mr. Chatterjee are at present in judicial custody. 

Candidates named as well

The CBI, which is investigating the matter as per directions of Calcutta High Court, has also named in the chargesheet 10 candidates who were illegally appointed.

The recruitment scam involves giving appointments to candidates for monetary gains, without considering their merit. The naming of candidates who secured jobs using unfair means assumes significance because it comes at a crucial time when the State government is considering if it should cancel the panel of candidates who have secured appointment illegally. It has also stated that it is up to the High Court to decide on the matter.

“The said case was registered on the Orders of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta. It was alleged that the said accused entered into conspiracy with one another in order to extend undue advantage in the matter of giving appointment to the unqualified candidates to the posts of Group-C staffs at various schools through 3rd RLST (NT), 2016, after expiry of panel,” a press statement by the agency said.