Begin probe into SSC recruitment scam, Calcutta HC tells CBI

The judge has specified that interrogation should start by midnight

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to start probe into the alleged recruitment scam of the School Service Commission (SSC) by midnight. The court specified that interrogation should start by midnight.

“I have found from other similar matters that the said [adviser to the School Service Commission] Santi Prasad Sinha as one of the kingpins of this corruption of giving illegal public appointment. Hence, I direct the regional head of the Central Bureau of Investigation to call Mr. Sinha in course of the day and start questioning him. The CBI is directed to initiate the said interrogation in course of the day — I mean by 12 midnight today [on Thursday],” Justice Gangopadhyay said in an order.

 Justice Gangopadhyay, in the order, said a large number of matters had come before the court “as to such illegal appointments and now the records of the statements made by the said Mr. Sinha and [programme officer] Samarjit Acharya are before this court, along with some exhibits” .

The judge pointed out that this court called the adviser to the School Service Commission Mr. Sinha and Mr. Acharya, the programme officer of the commission, and “asked them some questions wherefrom it appeared that on the basis of some recommendation from outside the office of the commission at the instance of Mr. Sinha, the recommendation letters were printed by the Programme Officer wherein the signatures of the Chairman of the Commission were mechanically printed”.

 On Wednesday, Justice Gangopadhyay has written to the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court bringing to their notice that decisions by his court, where he has directed a CBI probe into the allegations of corruption in recruitment of teachers and non-teaching staff, have been stayed by a Division Bench of  the High Court.  On four occasions, the orders of CBI probe passed by his court were stayed by a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court.