’Time will tell’: Arrested Bengal minister on being suspended by Trinamool

Mangalore Today News Network

Kolkata, July 29, 2022: Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a recruitment scam, has reacted to his sacking from cabinet and suspension from the party. Somoy e bolbe (only time will tell), Chatterjee said.

 

This was the TMC leader’s first reaction after Mamata Banerjee sacked him from all ministries and suspended him from the party, days after the ED recovered a mountain of cash from Chatterjee’s aide, Arpita Banerjee.

Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Banerjee have both been taken inside the ED office at CGO complex after a medical check-up.

Partha Chatterjee was removed from the portfolios of Commerce and Industry, Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology and Electronics, and Public Enterprises and Industrial Reconstruction in the state cabinet on Thursday, July 28.

Earlier, Mamata Banerjee, who had spoken tough on corruption following Chatterjee’s arrest, said she relieved him from ministry as the TMC is a "strict party".

"I have relieved him [Partha] because my party is a very strict party. If someone thinks that they can change perception [about TMC] by showing this, they are wrong," she said.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as directed by the Calcutta High Court, is probing the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff as well as teachers in government-sponsored and aided schools on recommendations of the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The ED is tracking the money trail in the scam.

Partha Chatterjee was the education minister when the alleged irregularities took place.

The ED has recovered a mountain of cash from the residences of Arpita Mukherjee, a close aide of Chatterjee. During her interrogation, Mukherjee revealed that the cash belonged to Partha Chatterjee and the plan was to move the piles of cash out of her house in a day or two. But the agency raids foiled the plan, she said.

Courtesy: India Today