Two more confidential statements to be recorded this month in Bengal SSC scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is preparing to record confidential statements of two more individuals in the high-profile school recruitment scam. These statements may be recorded before a judicial magistrate this month, with potential dates set for March 26 and March 31.

According to sources, both individuals have approached the ED and expressed their willingness to provide confidential statements. The ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are conducting a joint probe into the case. However, the ED has kept the identities of these two individuals completely confidential. It is also unclear whether they are accused in the case or witnesses.

Earlier, former Education Minister and ex-General Secretary of the Trinamool Congress, Partha Chatterjee’s son-in-law, Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, had applied to become a government witness in the case. His confidential statement was recorded earlier this week at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court in Kolkata.

Following this, the special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) allowed him to be discharged from the case. The ED had initially named Bhattacharya as an accused in its chargesheet. He was a member of the trustee board of the Babli Chatterjee Memorial Trust, which was established in the name of Partha Chatterjee’s late wife.

Investigating agencies allege that the cash obtained from the school recruitment scam was shown as "donations" to the trust, and then the same money was used to purchase properties in the trust's name. The trial for this case has begun in the special PMLA court in Kolkata. While Partha Chatterjee has been granted bail in the ED case, he remains in jail due to a parallel case filed by the CBI.