Kolkata, 03 January (H.S.) :

The Central Bureau of Investigation has submitted its final chargesheet in the Municipal Recruitment Scam, placing on record several key findings gathered during the course of the probe. The chargesheet was filed before the Special CBI Court in Alipore.

According to sources, the chargesheet names a senior IAS officer, Jyotisman Chattopadhyay, along with ABS Infozone Private Limited, a company linked to prime accused Ayan Sil. This marks a significant development in the high-profile case involving alleged large-scale irregularities in municipal appointments.

Investigators have identified Jyotisman Chattopadhyay, an IAS officer of West Bengal cadre, as an accused in the case. He had held a crucial position in the Directorate of Local Bodies, which functions under the Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Department. Chattopadhyay served in the department between 2017 and 2019 and was appointed Director in September 2018.

The Directorate of Local Bodies plays a key role in finalising municipal recruitments, including deciding the allocation of appointments. The CBI has alleged that Chattopadhyay misused his official position during this period, facilitating irregular appointments. Investigators also recovered several important documents from his residence, which reportedly formed the basis for including his name in the final chargesheet.

The chargesheet also mentions ABS Infozone Private Limited, the firm allegedly used by Ayan Sil to facilitate illegal recruitment processes. In the earlier chargesheet, the CBI had named Ayan Sil and Panchugopal Ray, former chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality, as accused.

The municipal recruitment case emerged after investigators probing the teacher recruitment scam stumbled upon evidence suggesting similar irregularities in municipal appointments. Based on information obtained from Ayan Sil, both the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI widened their investigation to include multiple municipalities.

Ayan Sil was arrested at an early stage of the municipal recruitment probe and was identified as a key middleman. He allegedly used his influence across various municipalities to secure jobs for favoured candidates in exchange for money. During subsequent searches at his residences and offices in Chinsurah and Kolkata, the Enforcement Directorate claimed to have traced assets worth nearly ₹100 crore, along with several incriminating documents and other sensitive material.

After examining the evidence collected during raids and interrogations, the CBI proceeded to file the final chargesheet, bringing the investigation in the municipal recruitment scam to a crucial stage.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh