Investigation so far by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the cash-for-municipalities’ job case in West Bengal has revealed that there had been a total of 1,829 illegal recruitments against payment of money in 17 urban civic bodies in the state, sources said on Wednesday.
The central agency has also mentioned the figure in a confidential report submitted to the Calcutta High Court’s single-judge bench of Justice Amrita Sinha.
As per the central agency sleuths all these recruitment were made through the outsourced agency owned by private promoter Ayan Sil, who is currently in judicial custody for his alleged involvement in both the cash-for-job cases for state-run schools and municipalities in West Bengal.
In fact, Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths, who are conducting a parallel probe along with CBI in both these cases, for the first time traced documents about recruitment irregularities in the municipalities while conducting raid and search operations in relation to the school job case Sil’s residence in March last year.
Meanwhile, as per estimates of the ED sleuths, whose probe is mainly circled around the money laundering angle in the case, estimated that the total fund involvement in municipalities’ recruitment irregularities is to the tune of around Rs 100 crore.
The ED sleuths, sources said, have reached this figure drawing a rough calculation that on an average an amount of Rs 5,00,000 was paid for each irregular recruitment in these urban civic bodies.
As per the findings of the ED sleuths so far the municipalities’ recruitment irregularities had been mainly for lower rank posts like drivers, clerks, lower grade computers operators and base-workers among others. As per the findings, the maximum number of irregular appointments had been detected in the case of municipalities in North 24 Parganas district.
The ED sleuths also to an extent have tracked the money-trail as regards the areas where the scam proceeds have been invested. As per ED’s findings the scam proceeds were mainly invested in the real estate sector in certain districts.
Manipur Police arrest 11 militants, recover large cache of arms, ammunition
The Manipur Police arrested 11 militants belonging to various banned outfits and recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition during the past 24 hours, officials said here on Friday.
PM Modi unveils 21-point action plan at 6th BIMSTEC Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday presented a comprehensive 21-point action plan during the sixth BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, laying out an ambitious road map for cooperation across diverse sectors.
ED raids multiple premises of 'Empuraan' producer Gokulam Gopalan
Amid the controversy surrounding Malayalam film ‘Empuraan’ starring superstar Mohanlal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted raids at multiple premises linked to film’s producer Gokulam Gopalan.
SC declines PIL seeking restriction of social media platforms for kids below 13 years
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking urgent judicial intervention to regulate access to social media platforms for children below 13 years of age.
BIMSTEC Summit: PM Modi, Yunus meet amid strained ties
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held a bilateral meeting with Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of Bangladeshi interim government, on the sidelines of the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.
Rupee strengthens against dollar amid Trump's reciprocal tariffs
The Indian rupee witnessed sharp gains on Friday at below 85 against dollar, as the dollar index and oil prices dropped sharply amid concerns over recession in the US economy after the reciprocal tariffs were announced.
Quad to send $20 million relief support to earthquake-ravaged Myanmar
Quad members Australia, India, Japan, and the United States on Friday collectively committed over $20 million in humanitarian assistance to support the relief efforts for the earthquake-devastated Myanmar.
'Waqf Bill will benefit Muslims, no threat to religious sites,' says Shahabuddin Razvi
Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi, the National President of All India Muslim Jamaat, expressed his support for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, stating that it would significantly benefit Muslims and ensure the betterment of their socio-economic conditions.