The probe into alleged irregularities in municipal hiring across West Bengal has once again reached a prominent figure within the ruling camp. On Saturday, teams of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) fanned out and conducted simultaneous searches at eight separate premises connected to Trinamool Congress MLA and former state minister Madan Mitra.
Where the searches took place
According to sources, the operation covered a total of eight locations spread across Kolkata and its surrounding areas, including the legislator's own residence. ED officials reached Mitra's home in Kolkata's Bhowanipore, along with addresses in Kamarhati in North 24 Parganas and Joka in South 24 Parganas. The agency has made it clear that the entire search exercise is directly linked to the municipal recruitment corruption case.
What the allegations are
Officials connected to the inquiry say the investigation so far has indicated that Madan Mitra allegedly collected bribes in the form of cash and gold through middlemen. These transactions are said to have been made in exchange for securing jobs for ineligible candidates in various posts across several municipalities, including the Kamarhati Municipality. Put simply, the charge is that government jobs were handed out on the strength of money and gold rather than merit.
More than 125 appointments under scrutiny
Sources have claimed that the TMC leader's name appears to be linked to more than 125 such allegedly unlawful appointments. In other words, the scope of the probe is not confined to one or two cases but extends to a large number of recruitments. The agency says the investigation is far from over and that further leads and details are being examined on an ongoing basis.
