Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for nearly 11 hours on Monday in connection with an alleged money trail linked to irregularities in recruitment to state-aided schools in West Bengal.
The questioning took place at the ED’s office in the CGO Complex at Salt Lake. Banerjee arrived shortly before 11 am and left around 10 pm.
After the session, he said he had tried to answer all questions asked by investigators.
Third Round of ED Questioning
Monday’s appearance marked the third time Banerjee has been questioned by the ED in connection with the case.
He was earlier examined by the agency in September 2023 and again in November 2023.
A day before the ED questioning, Banerjee had also appeared before officers of the Criminal Investigation Department in connection with an alleged signature forgery case.
ED Focuses on Alleged Money Trail
According to ED sources, the latest round of questioning focused on tracing the movement of alleged proceeds of crime linked to recruitment irregularities in state-aided schools.
Investigators are examining whether money generated through the alleged irregularities moved through multiple channels.
Banerjee’s statements during the interrogation were recorded, sources said.
Earlier 6,000-Page Document Submitted
Banerjee had previously submitted a 6,000-page document to the ED in November 2023.
The submission was made in response to questions raised by investigators during the probe.
At the time, he had stated that he had nothing to hide and would appear again if summoned by the agency.
Recruitment Process Under Investigation
The case relates to recruitment of around 24,600 teaching and non-teaching staff in state-aided schools in West Bengal.
The appointments followed a written test conducted in 2016 and subsequent personality assessments.
According to the report, merit lists for Group C and Group D posts expired in May 2019. Merit lists for secondary and higher secondary teachers expired in December 2019.
Investigators have alleged that more than 1,000 appointments were made after the expiry of the merit lists.
ED Probe Began After CBI FIR
The ED began its money laundering investigation in July 2022 after a First Information Report was filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The CBI is conducting a parallel investigation into the recruitment case.
The ED filed its first chargesheet in September 2022, naming former education minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee.
The sixth chargesheet, filed in 2025, named Trinamool MLA Chandranath Sinha of Bolpur as an accused.
Investigation Continues
The recruitment probe remains one of West Bengal’s most closely watched investigations.
Authorities are continuing to examine recruitment records, alleged money trails, statements of individuals and documents submitted during the investigation.
As the matter proceeds, further action will depend on evidence gathered by the investigating agencies and findings placed before the competent court.
Why Audit Trails Matter in Recruitment and Public Systems
Recruitment systems require transparent records, proper approval trails and independent verification. When appointments, merit lists or financial flows are questioned, strong documentation becomes essential for accountability.
Professional auditing services in india can help institutions review internal processes, verify records and strengthen governance frameworks in sensitive administrative systems.
Shunyatax Global Insight
At Shunyatax Global, we believe transparent systems and verified documentation are vital for public trust. The Bengal school recruitment probe highlights the importance of clear records, financial accountability and independent review in high-stakes institutional processes.
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