The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office, has provisionally attached immovable properties worth approximately ₹57.78 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, in connection with the West Bengal SSC Assistant Teacher Recruitment Scam (Classes IX to XII).
Properties Linked to Proceeds of Crime
According to the ED, the attached assets belong to Jiban Krishna Saha, MLA, Prasanna Kumar Roy, and others. The properties include residential apartments, villas, and land parcels located in Rajarhat, New Town, Patharghata, Garagari, and surrounding areas of North 24 Parganas, as well as Murshidabad and Purba Bardhaman districts. Several of the properties are situated in HIDCO-developed areas of Kolkata.
Investigators stated that these assets were acquired using proceeds of crime generated through illegal appointments of assistant teachers for Classes IX to XII.
Background of the ED Investigation
The ED initiated its investigation based on CBI FIRs registered following directions from the Calcutta High Court. The probe relates to alleged large-scale manipulation in the recruitment process conducted by the West Bengal Central School Service Commission (SSC).
The investigation found that OMR sheets and personality test scores were tampered with, and appointments were made even after the expiry of recruitment panels to accommodate ineligible candidates in exchange for illegal gratification.
Role of Middlemen and Money Laundering
The ED identified Prasanna Kumar Roy as the main middleman in the scam. Investigators said he and his associates collected large sums of cash from undeserving candidates in return for securing illegal appointments.
The proceeds, running into hundreds of crores of rupees, were allegedly laundered through a complex network of companies, LLPs, and bank accounts, before being used to acquire immovable properties.
Involvement of Jiban Krishna Saha
The probe also revealed the alleged involvement of Jiban Krishna Saha, MLA (TMC), described as a key accused in the assistant teacher recruitment scam. The ED stated that he was actively involved in collecting and handling proceeds of crime related to illegal appointments to Group C, Group D, and Assistant Teacher posts.
Saha was arrested on 25 August 2025 after allegedly attempting to flee during a search operation at his residence in Murshidabad. The ED found that properties worth approximately ₹3.01 crore, acquired in his name and in the names of his family members, were purchased using laundered funds.
Assets Linked to Close Associates
The investigation further revealed that several properties were acquired in the name of Nilima Mangal, a close associate and former spouse of Prasanna Kumar Roy. The ED stated that substantial funds used for these acquisitions were sourced from illegal recruitment activities.
Prasanna Kumar Roy has already been arrested in the case, and a prosecution complaint has been filed, with the special court taking cognisance of the offence of money laundering.
Total Attachments Near ₹700 Crore
The ED highlighted that it has previously attached properties worth:
- ₹247.2 crore in the SSC Group C & D recruitment scam
- ₹238.78 crore in the SSC Assistant Teacher (Classes IX–XII) recruitment scam
- ₹154 crore (approx.) in the primary teacher’s recruitment scam
With the latest attachment, the total value of assets attached by the ED in West Bengal recruitment scam cases has reached approximately ₹698 crore.
Supreme Court Ruling on SSC Recruitment
The ED also referred to a Supreme Court judgment dated 3 April 2025, which quashed the appointments of over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff, holding that the entire SSC recruitment process was vitiated and tainted.
The Enforcement Directorate stated that further investigation is currently in progress.
Source: ED Press Release dated 21/01/2026