In a significant development related to the multi-crore cash-for-job scam in West Bengal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has successfully obtained the voice sample of Sujay Krishna Bhadra, a pivotal figure in the alleged recruitment irregularities within the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC). Bhadra, arrested on June 2, 2023, is known to have close ties with Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee.
The ED’s pursuit to collect Bhadra’s voice sample had been ongoing for more than five months, and the breakthrough came after the Calcutta High Court’s directive following a closed-door hearing conducted by Justice Amrita Sinha.
Bhadra, colloquially known as ‘Kalighater Kaku,’ was moved from the state government SSKM Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for three months, to the Central Government-run ESIC Medical College Hospital. Accompanied by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the ED conducted the voice sampling at Joka ESI Hospital, utilizing a soundproof room and the expertise of an ENT specialist.
The ED’s interest in Bhadra’s voice sample stems from an incident on February 20, 2023, where he allegedly instructed someone over the phone to delete data from their mobile phone. The collected voice sample is intended to corroborate this piece of evidence.
Despite facing health challenges, including heart surgery for arterial blockage, Bhadra’s voice sample collection was pursued with court approval. The ED had previously attempted to secure the sample in July, and on December 8, 2023, officials reached the SSKM Hospital only to find that Bhadra had been shifted to the ICU.
Bhadra’s association with Abhishek Banerjee, the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has added a political dimension to the investigation. Abhishek Banerjee has been questioned by federal agencies regarding the cash-for-jobs scam, which allegedly involved illicit appointments in government schools from 2014 to 2021.
With the investigation unfolding, the ED’s collection of Bhadra’s voice sample marks a crucial step forward in untangling the complexities of the cash-for-job scam that has already led to the arrest of three TMC MLAs, including a former state education minister.
Stay tuned for further updates on this unfolding investigation.
