ED summons TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee in primary teacher recruitment scam; asked to appear on June 15

KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday served a summons to Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, directing him to appear before the agency on June 15 in connection with the primary school recruitment irregularities case, officials said.According to officials, a team of ED officers visited Banerjee’s residence on Kalighat Road in south Kolkata on Wednesday evening, according to news agency PTI. As the Diamond Harbour MP was not present at the time, the summons was handed over to a member of his staff.Banerjee, nephew of former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, has been asked to appear before the agency at its office in the CGO Complex in Salt Lake.The ED has been investigating the alleged primary teacher recruitment scam since 2022. As part of the probe, the agency has carried out multiple searches at premises linked to Trinamool Congress leaders and arrested several prominent figures, including former state education minister Partha Chatterjee.Investigators suspect large-scale irregularities in teacher appointments, including alleged manipulation of merit lists, fraudulent recruitment practices and the involvement of intermediaries in securing jobs in state-run schools. Over the past year, the ED has questioned several officials and attached assets worth crores of rupees as part of its money-laundering investigation.While the ED is examining the alleged proceeds of crime linked to the recruitment scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is probing other aspects of the case. Both agencies have filed charge sheets in phases as the investigation has progressed.Officials said the ED is also examining the role of Leaps and Bounds Pvt Ltd, a company linked to Abhishek Banerjee, after detecting suspicious transactions allegedly connected to accused middlemen in the case.The company has previously been searched and some of its assets attached as part of the money-laundering probe. Banerjee, however, has denied any wrongdoing.