Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials swooped in on the home of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Jiban Krishna Saha in Murshidabad district early Monday, escalating their investigation into the massive West Bengal school recruitment scandal. The raid, linked to alleged money laundering in the hiring of thousands of teachers and staff, unfolded dramatically as Saha reportedly attempted to evade capture by climbing over his property's boundary wall. ED teams pursued and apprehended him in a nearby locality, where he is now under interrogation.

The operation stemmed from evidence of suspicious financial dealings involving a resident from Birbhum district, who joined the ED squad during the search at Saha's residence. Officials are probing these transactions as part of the broader probe into irregularities that have rocked the state's education sector. Simultaneous raids targeted Saha's relatives in both Murshidabad and Birbhum districts, widening the net in the ongoing case.

This is not Saha's first brush with central agencies. In April 2023, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested him after a raid where he allegedly tossed two mobile phones into a adjacent pond to destroy potential evidence. Divers recovered the devices, which contained data tied to the scam. Saha secured bail in May 2024 following his detention. The ED had previously grilled his wife regarding the same allegations.

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The West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam, which erupted in 2022, involves claims of bribes and favoritism in appointing over 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff in government-aided schools. The scandal came to light after the ED arrested former education minister Partha Chatterjee, with massive cash hauls—exceeding Rs 50 crore—and gold seized from his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. Courts have since invalidated many of these appointments, leading to widespread job losses and protests. While the CBI handles the criminal angles, the ED focuses on tracing illicit funds laundered through the scheme.

As investigations deepen, political tensions rise in Bengal, with opposition parties demanding accountability from the ruling TMC. Saha, representing Burwan constituency, maintains his innocence amid the unfolding developments.

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