ED Unearths Major Cash Haul in West Bengal Municipality Recruitment Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has intensified its probe into the sprawling West Bengal municipality recruitment scam, conducting extensive raids across multiple districts and seizing a significant amount of cash and incriminating documents. In a major development, the central agency confiscated approximately Rs 45 lakh in cash during these operations, signaling a deeper dive into the alleged financial irregularities.

The raids, carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), spanned various locations in West Bengal, including key areas in North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Nadia, and the bustling metropolis of Kolkata.

These targeted actions are part of an ongoing investigation into a massive scam involving recruitment irregularities across several municipalities within the state.

According to sources familiar with the investigation, the ED's focus is on uncovering the money trail linked to the alleged illegal appointments.

The seized documents are believed to contain crucial evidence pertaining to the modus operandi of the scam, the beneficiaries, and the network involved in facilitating these fraudulent recruitments. The cash recovery further strengthens the agency's contention that illicit financial transactions were at the heart of the scheme.

This PMLA case stems from a First Information Report (FIR) originally registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The CBI's action itself was initiated following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which had ordered an investigation into serious allegations of impropriety in the hiring processes of various civic bodies. The Calcutta High Court has been rigorously monitoring the progress of these investigations, underscoring the gravity and widespread nature of the alleged corruption.

The recruitment scandal reportedly involves irregularities in the appointment of individuals to various posts, including clerks, peons, and sanitation workers, across 14 municipalities.

These alleged fraudulent recruitments are believed to have taken place between the years 2014 and 2016. The ED's latest actions highlight a determined effort to trace the proceeds of crime and bring those responsible for defrauding the public recruitment system to justice, sending a strong message against corruption in public administration.