last year in west bengal teacher appointment scam (Teacher Appointment Scam, During the investigation itself, the Central Investigation Agency came to know of a new scam, named ‘Municipal Appointment Scam’. After interrogating expelled Trinamool leader Shantanu Banerjee last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 20 arrested real estate developer, film producer and businessman Ayan Sheel, considered close to him, at his Salt Lake residence after a search of about 37 hours. it was done. Many important documents related to teacher appointment scam were found from Sheel’s hideout. The ED also got wind of the municipal appointment scam from the same documents. In April the same year, the ED had presented a report related to the teacher appointment scam in the Calcutta High Court.
Information about many documents was found in the report during investigation.
The report gave information about documents, a diary, digital equipment and other items seized during the investigation, in which it was claimed that major objectionable documents related to appointments in many municipalities had been found and seized. The central agency had also recovered OMR sheets, admit cards and a list of candidates from Sheel’s residence. It was also feared that like the teacher appointment scam, corruption has also taken place in the appointments in municipalities in the state. It was told that the contract was given to a private company ABS Infozone Private Limited for recruitment in Group C and Group D in various municipalities, District Primary School Council and other places.
Conspiracy hatched in appointments with government officials
The entire work of making question paper, printing, scanning of OMR sheets and making the final merit list was given to this company, of which Sheel was also the director. After this, the Calcutta High Court ordered the CBI to investigate the case. CBI registered an FIR against the director of the said company and others and started investigation. The company and its officials are accused of conspiring with government officials in appointments, under which in lieu of money, ineligible candidates were illegally recruited to various posts in many municipalities.
More than 1,500 people were appointed illegally
The CBI alleges that between 2014 and 2018, various municipal bodies of the state had illegally appointed more than 1,500 people in exchange for money. Investigation was started regarding the appointments made in other municipalities including Kanchrapara, New Barrackpur, Kamarhatti, Titagarh, Baranagar, Halishahar, Dumdum South, Taki. After CBI, on May 14, 2023, ED also started investigating the appointment scam in municipalities. Sheel’s name was also included in the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) filed by the ED.
Sheel is accused of manipulating OMR sheets for bribe
OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheets are commonly used in competitive examinations, which contain multiple choice questions. Candidates fill the round bubbles marked next to the options, which are ultimately read using the OMR reader. Sheel is accused of manipulating OMR sheets for bribe. Sheel was a mobile mechanic in 2015, but in seven years he became a millionaire. His 23 bank accounts and at least eight properties are under investigation. Sheel is currently serving his judicial custody in the Presidency Correctional Facility.
Some ministers, MLAs and other influential people are also under investigation.
Some ministers, MLAs, councilors and other influential people of the state are also under the scanner of the central investigative agencies probing the scam of appointments in municipalities. In connection with the case, CBI and ED officials have already raided the residences of state ministers, MLAs, councilors and Trinamool leaders. Besides, search operations have also been conducted in some municipalities. In October last year, the ED had raided 12 places including the residence of state Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh in Michaelnagar, North 24 Parganas. In this case, searches have been conducted at the residence of State Urban Development Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim in Chetla area of South Kolkata and the house of Kamarhatti MLA Madan Mitra in Bhawanipur area. Now on January 12 this year, the ED also raided the residences of State Fire Minister Sujit Bose, Baranagar MLA and Trinamool leader Tapas Rai, besides North Dumdum councilor Subodh Chakraborty.