[Recruitment Scam] "May Not Get Hold Of Anything At Pace At Which Investigation Is Progressing": Calcutta HC Questions Progress Of ED Probe

The Calcutta High Court today questioned the pace at which the probe of the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) was progressing in the multi-tier recruitment cash-for-jobs scam. A single bench of Justice Amrita Sinha pointed out that the first writ petition seeking to inquire into the irregularities had been filed in 2019, and that almost five years later, there had not been any definitive outcomes in the case.

At the earlier hearing, the Court had taken on board progress reports from both the CBI and ED in a closed door hearing.

On this occasion, the Court questioned the progress of the ED probe.

"Why is it taking such a lot of time [in attaching properties] even after identification of the properties...the manner or pace in which the investigation is continuing, a time will come when everyone will go out, and you will not be able to get hold of anything...the entire exercise began in 2019, and we are in 2024, do you think [investigation] will be a cakewalk?" the court remarked.

DSG Dhiraj Trivedi for the ED, submitted that the agency had attached some properties connected to the proceeds of the recruitment scam, and that they were not leaving any stone unturned, even after facing certain hurdles during the investigation.

"Kindly appreciate that we are facing litigations at every step...such an adversarial position is not expected...we are filing another report. We are not expecting anything less than this...we are fighting tooth and nail and sticking to our stance. We have already identified, next date we will come up with a comprehensive report.," he said.

Notably, the ED had earlier stated that it was investigating a money trail between AITC MP Abhishek Banerjee, and a company, Leaps & Bounds Pvt Ltd, which had allegedly been used to siphon funds connected to the recruitment scam. 

The Court has listed the matter for further hearing on 12th March 2024, wherein the CBI and ED are expected to file further reports. 

Case: Soumen Nandy v State of West Bengal

Case No: WPA 9979/2022