Kolkata, January 02: In the highly publicized West Bengal school job scam, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken major action against the properties of a state government minister.
The central agency has seized a total of 10 properties registered in the name of the minister, his wife, and son, with a total market value of approximately โน3.60 crore.
According to ED sources, the properties were valued based on the price at the time of their registration. However, the current market value of these properties is estimated to be nearly double.
A senior official of the central agency stated that if the minister is unable to provide concrete proof of the legitimate source of the funds used to purchase these properties, they will be sold through auction.
The ED has already named him as an accused in the charge sheet filed in the school job scam. It is alleged that the minister collected approximately โน12.75 crore from unqualified candidates in the name of providing jobs in primary schools.
The ED chargesheet also claims that the minister recommended a total of 159 ineligible candidates and, on average, received approximately โน8 lakh from each candidate. The agency states that the minister needs further questioning in the case, which is why his detention is being cited.
It is noteworthy that in August 2025, West Bengal Governor Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose approved the ED chargesheet in this case. During the investigation, the ED found the minister’s name in the diary of Kuntal Ghosh, a middleman and now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader, leading to his arrest.
In March 2024, the ED raided and searched the minister’s residence in Bolpur, Birbhum district. During this operation, the ED seized โน4.1 million in cash and a mobile phone from his residence.
The minister is considered close to Anubrata Mandal, an influential Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former district president of Birbhum district. Following this action, political activity in the state has intensified, and political rhetoric has also begun regarding the matter.