Kolkata, 25 August (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday carried out search operations at the residence of a relative of Prasanna Roy, an accused in the multi-crore SSC teachers’ recruitment scam. The raid took place at the house of Shubham Mangal, a resident of Huchukpara in Ward No. 5 of Purulia town, who is related to Roy by marriage.

According to sources, an ED team of around 8–10 officials conducted the search, while Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel cordoned off the premises to prevent any outside interference.

Prasanna Roy’s name first surfaced in the teacher recruitment corruption case during the early stages of the investigation. Probe agencies discovered his links with Shantiprasad Sinha, the former advisor to the School Service Commission (SSC).

Roy was initially arrested by the CBI and later secured bail from the Supreme Court. However, the ED subsequently rearrested him in connection with the money laundering angle of the scam. Investigators suspect that Roy operated as a “middleman”, allegedly facilitating illegal transactions in the recruitment process.

The raid on the residence of Roy’s in-laws is being seen as highly significant, given his central role in the case. The timing is also notable, as the ED on the same day arrested Jiban Krishna Saha, Trinamool Congress MLA from Burwan in Murshidabad, in connection with the same recruitment scam.

The SSC recruitment scam has already led to multiple high-profile arrests, including senior political leaders and former education officials, and continues to shake West Bengal’s political establishment.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh