ED seizes jail minister Chandranath Sinha's properties worth 4 crores

The new year has begun on a turbulent note for West Bengal’s Prisons Minister, Chandranath Sinha, as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has frozen several of his immovable properties linked to the multi-crore primary recruitment scam. According to the federal agency, 10 distinct properties—including a market complex, residential flats, and land parcels—registered in the names of the minister, his wife, and their two sons have been attached. The book value of these assets at the time of registration is estimated at ₹3.60 crore, though officials suggest the current market valuation exceeds double that amount.

The ED informed the special court that these seizures are a direct consequence of the minister's inability to explain the source of his "illegal" income. In its supplementary chargesheet, the agency alleged that Sinha pocketed approximately ₹12.72 crore by facilitating illegal appointments. The probe revealed that he allegedly provided a list of 159 candidates, and based on witness testimonies, it is suspected that an average of ₹8 lakh was collected from each aspirant to secure a primary teaching job.

The investigation into the money trail further suggests that while ₹4 crore worth of property has been identified and seized, a significant portion of the alleged bribe money remains unaccounted for. The ED pointed out that the minister has consistently failed to provide satisfactory documentation for large cash deposits and investments made between 2016 and 2021. The agency maintains that the full extent of the diverted funds can only be uncovered through custodial interrogation, as many transactions do not reflect in formal bank accounts.