The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has urged for better cooperation with other central agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Income Tax department while handling financial scams in West Bengal. The aim is to exchange information and coordinate efforts, especially in cases where multiple agencies are involved in parallel probes.
ED Director Sanjay Kumar Mishra held discussions on this issue with other top officials from different ED teams investigating financial scams in the state. These include the teacher recruitment, cattle smuggling, and coal smuggling cases – all of which are being probed by the CBI and the ED simultaneously. While the CBI investigates the criminal conspiracy aspect, the ED looks into money laundering angles.
Mishra reviewed the progress of ongoing investigations in these cases, focusing in particular on the allegations regarding teacher recruitment. During the meetings, he also inquired about evidence and document collection, and how legal representatives planned to move the arguments forward.
There is also a possibility of Mishra personally questioning Sujay Krishna Bhadra (also known as ‘Kalighater Kaku’), who was arrested in connection with the alleged teacher recruitment scam. According to the ED’s remand letter, the scam’s basic planning took place at the West Bengal Board of Primary Education’s office and involved Trinamool legislator and former WBBPE President Manik Bhattacharya and Bhadra.
Overall, the ED is striving to optimize coordination and collaboration among central agencies to better deal with financial scams in West Bengal.
