Kolkata, 12 August (H.S.) – The scheduled testimony in the West Bengal primary recruitment scam case on Tuesday was halted after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed the court that it has not yet received the required sanction documents from Raj Bhavan to proceed against State Minister for Correctional Administration and Small & Cottage Industries, Chandranath Sinha.

The special CBI court in Kolkata refused to accept the ED’s chargesheet without the sanction, delaying the hearing. The matter will now be taken up on August 20.

Last Wednesday, the ED had filed the chargesheet against Sinha, who had earlier evaded two summonses from the agency. Although he appeared at the ED office last Thursday, it remains unclear whether he was interrogated.

According to ED sources, Sinha’s name surfaced during questioning of suspended TMC youth leader Kuntal Ghosh from Burdwan’s Balarampur. The ED summoned Sinha on July 25, but he did not appear. On the same day, ED officials searched his residence, seizing ₹41 lakh in cash and his mobile phone. He was also summoned to unlock the device.

Subsequent notices were issued on July 28 and July 31, but the minister skipped the second round of questioning as well. On July 31, the ED sought details of all movable and immovable assets belonging to him and his family. Before these documents were submitted, the chargesheet was filed.

While Raj Bhavan sources claimed last week that the Governor had already granted the sanction, the central agency maintains it has yet to receive the official paperwork. This procedural delay has stalled further court proceedings against the minister.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh