New Delhi | January 3, 2026 | Enforcement agencies have intensified action in the teacher recruitment scam that rocked West Bengal, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) attaching assets worth approximately ₹641 crore linked to the accused. The agency alleges that ineligible candidates were recruited into government teaching jobs in return for bribes, with the illicit proceeds later invested in movable and immovable properties.
According to the ED, the probe has unearthed a coordinated criminal conspiracy involving ministers, MLAs, bureaucrats and intermediaries. Investigators claim that eligible candidates were sidelined in violation of rules, while appointments were issued to those who failed to meet prescribed criteria.
Assets of Chandranath Sinha provisionally attached
In its latest action, the ED has provisionally attached immovable properties worth ₹3.65 crore belonging to Minister Chandranath Sinha under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, on December 31, 2025. The agency maintains that these assets represent proceeds of crime.
Investigations further indicate that properties were acquired in the names of family members around Bolpur and Birbhum to conceal the true source of funds. During searches conducted at Sinha’s residential premises in March 2024, the ED recovered ₹41 lakh in cash along with several incriminating documents.
ED probe followed CBI FIR
The money-laundering investigation was initiated after an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI booked the case under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following directions from the Calcutta High Court.
The ED alleges that appointment letters were issued to unlisted, ineligible and lower-ranked candidates, while genuine and qualified aspirants were deliberately excluded through manipulation of the recruitment process.
Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee among accused
The high-profile case also names former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee and his close associate Arpita Mukherjee as key accused. Earlier searches at premises linked to Mukherjee led to the seizure of ₹49.80 crore in cash and gold jewellery worth ₹5.08 crore, the ED has said.
So far, the agency has issued six Provisional Attachment Orders (PAOs) in the case, covering assets worth about ₹98.65 crore. In the related PTRS matter, the total seizure and attachment has reached ₹154.91 crore.
Charges framed against 54 accused
The ED said charges have been framed against 54 individuals and entities so far, including ministers, MLAs, middlemen and other associates. The trial is underway before a special PMLA court in Kolkata.
Separately, in cases linked to SSC assistant teacher recruitment and Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ staff recruitment scams, the ED has attached assets worth around ₹486 crore. Taken together, attachments connected to recruitment scams in West Bengal have now crossed ₹641 crore, officials said.
Probe continues; more action likely
Investigators assert that the scam is not limited to a handful of individuals but reflects a systemic network designed to monetise public recruitment. The ED–CBI joint probe remains ongoing, and officials have not ruled out further arrests and asset attachments in the coming weeks.
Legal and governance experts say the case raises serious questions about transparency, accountability and oversight in public recruitment, while the scale of attachments underscores the enforcement agencies’ resolve to pursue financial trails in corruption cases—potentially setting an important precedent in the fight against graft.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
