The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths probing the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam in West Bengal on Thursday faced the wrath of a special CBI judge for the slow pace of investigation by the agency in the matter.
"Even the accused have some rights. The investigation agency cannot continue with the investigation for an indefinite period. What is going on is not right," the judge said at a hearing on bail application by former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee and six others in the matter.
"You wrote in the charge sheet that you need to investigate others for their roles in the scam. But where are they? I have been hearing the matter for the last two months. I understand that this is a massive task. But have you recorded the statements of others?" the judge questioned the investigating officials.
Giving reasons for the delay, CBI's counsel said that counsel of the accused persons is accusing of delay in the investigation process without looking at the other side of it. "When the investigation started, the charges were just of illegal recruitment against money. But as the course of investigation progressed it was revealed that the entire conspiracy, starting from how the recruitment process will be manipulated to what would be the next course of action, was pre-planned," the CBI counsel said.
He also pointed out that till date the investigation agency had been able to dig out how the optical mark recognition (OMR) sheets were tampered with to facilitate irregular recruitment. "In course of investigation, names of many important government functionaries and influential persons. All of them are parts of the bigger conspiracy. The agency's case diary speaks everything," the CBI counsel said.
Although the judge of the special court asked CBI to complete the investigation at the earliest, it refused to grant the bail plea for Chatterjee and others. The matter will be heard again on March 2.
24 airports shut, airlines issue travel advisories amid tensions between India-Pakistan
The Civil Aviation Ministry has said that 24 airports across the country have been temporarily closed for civil flight operations as of Thursday evening amid escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, which soared further after a Pakistani drone and missile attack on Indian cities in Jammu, Punjab, Gujarat and Rajasthan.
India to present its case today before IMF to review bailout package to Pakistan
India will put forward the country's position at a board meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington on Friday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said in response to a query on New Delhi asking for a review of loans to Pakistan.
India-Pakistan conflict is 'none of our business', says US Vice-President Vance
US Vice-President J.D. Vance has said that the conflict between India and Pakistan is "fundamentally none of our business," though he and President Donald Trump are encouraging both the countries to de-escalate.
BSF foils infiltration bid in J&K's Samba, heavy mortar shelling continues by Pakistan
After its drones and low range missiles fired to target defence installations were neutralised by the alert troops in Jammu, Samba, R.S. Pura and other places, terrorists aided by Pakistan troops made an unsuccessful infiltration attempt in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on the International Border.
8 pistols, 16 empty magazines found on train arriving in Agartala from Punjab
The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF), in a joint operation on Thursday, recovered eight pistols and 16 empty magazines from an express train after it reached Agartala railway station from Punjab, officials said.
ISRO Chairman to grace 5th Convocation of Central Agricultural University on May 11
The Central Agricultural University (CAU) is set to hold its fifth convocation ceremony on May 11, 2025, at the campus hall of the College of Fisheries in Lembuchhara. This was announced today by Professor A.B. Patil, Dean of the Fishery College, during a press conference held on campus.
National Lok Adalat in Tripura on May 10; Over 21,000 cases to be taken up
The second National Lok Adalat of the year is set to be held across Tripura on Saturday, May 10. The initiative will be conducted not only at the Tripura High Court but also in all district and sub-divisional court complexes across the state.