In a significant development in a high-profile corruption case, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted its final charge sheet on Friday concerning the extensive municipal jobs-for-cash scandal in West Bengal. The document names a former state government official, Jyotishman Chattopadhyay, and a company connected to the prime accused, Ayan Sil.
Scale of the Alleged Scam
The federal investigative agency has made startling allegations, claiming that at least 600 fraudulent appointments were orchestrated across eight different municipalities. The municipalities implicated include South Dum Dum, Kamarhati, Baranagar, North Dum Dum, and Ranaghat. In total, the CBI asserts that a staggering 1,829 individuals were illegally recruited into various municipal positions across the state through this scheme.
Key Accused and Modus Operandi
The charge sheet highlights the role of Ayan Sil's firm, ABS Infoway Private Limited, which allegedly managed the entire illicit recruitment process. The CBI claims that Sil collected approximately Rs 40 crore from candidates who were not eligible for the jobs. Out of this massive sum, around Rs 30 crore was reportedly distributed among municipality chairpersons, other municipal officials, and various influential persons to facilitate the scam.
According to the agency, Sil charged each candidate between Rs 3 to 5 lakh to secure a municipal job. The manipulation extended to the examination process itself, with accusations that OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) answer sheets were tampered with to ensure the selected candidates passed.
Influence of a Former Official
A crucial figure named in the charge sheet is Jyotishman Chattopadhyay, who served in the state's Department of Urban Development from 2017 to 2019. During this period, he held a pivotal position in the Directorate of Local Bodies (DLB), the very department that oversees and regulates municipal recruitment in West Bengal.
The CBI has accused Chattopadhyay of misusing his official capacity and exerting undue influence to advance the scam during his tenure. As part of its evidence, the agency stated it recovered incriminating documents during searches conducted at the residences of several accused, including Chattopadhyay. The former official has, however, denied all allegations leveled against him.
This case also involves the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which has filed a separate charge sheet focusing on the money laundering aspects of the scandal. The findings from both agencies paint a picture of a well-organized racket that exploited the public recruitment system for illicit gains.
