In a significant development in the ongoing school cash-for-jobs scam investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday attached assets worth approximately Rs 3.6 crore belonging to West Bengal's Minister for Correctional Administration, Chandranath Sinha, and his family members.
Properties Attached Across Family Names
The central probe agency attached around 10 properties, which include residential homes, flats, land parcels, and a market. These assets were held in the names of Minister Chandranath Sinha, his wife Kuntala Sinha, and their son. The action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is a direct result of the agency's probe into the alleged recruitment scam.
Diary Entry and Raids Triggered Probe
The ED's scrutiny of the minister intensified after the discovery of a diary belonging to another accused in the case, Kuntal Ghosh. This diary contained over 100 names, including that of Chandranath Sinha. Following this lead, the federal agency conducted multiple searches at Sinha's Bolpur residence earlier.
During these raids, ED officers seized several incriminating documents and a substantial amount of cash. Officials recovered about Rs 41 lakh in cash from the premises. According to the ED, neither Sinha nor his family members could provide a satisfactory explanation for the source of this large sum of money.
Family's Defense and Legal Proceedings
In her statement to the investigators, Kuntala Sinha claimed that the family's income was derived from agricultural activities and a construction business. However, she reportedly stated that she had no knowledge about the Rs 41 lakh cash found during the search.
The legal wheels in this case have been in motion for some time. The ED had filed a chargesheet against Chandranath Sinha six months prior to this attachment action. The minister surrendered before a court on September 6, 2025. While the ED sought his custody, the court granted him bail. He was also questioned by ED officials in October of the previous year as part of the investigation.
This asset attachment marks a crucial step in the ED's efforts to trace and seize the alleged proceeds of crime in the multi-crore recruitment scandal that has rocked the state's education sector.
