In a fresh allegation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Madan Mitra has been accused of being part of a civic body job recruitment scam.
As per ED sources, the Kamarhati MLA has been accused of being linked to the recruitment of more than 125 candidates into various municipal corporation posts. It has been claimed that bribes were collected from those applicants in cash or even in the form of gold.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the bribe was not taken by Mitra directly but through middlemen. The ED is also investigating the role of these middlemen.
The central investigation agency has claimed that Mitra may be linked to more than 125 such cases. The ED is also looking into whether this scam is limted to Kamarhati municipality or extends to other civic body as well.
On Saturday, the ED conducted raids at multiple locations linked to Mitra including Bhabanipur, Kamarhati, Dakshineswar, Beleghata, Joka and Behala. The probe agency will also investigate whether the three-term MLA who has been in power since 2011 has used his influence to finalise these recruitments.
Who is ‘MM’?
The ED also investigated whether the initials “MM” found in the diary of one Ayan Sil, who was arrested on March 20, 2023, refers to Madan Mitra.
Sil’s firm faces allegations of conducting this recruitment scam across seven municipalities in the state, including Kamarhati Municipality. Sil’s company handled recruitment for various roles, like Group-D staff and typists in these municipalities. It also managed tasks like printing OMR sheets and organising interviews, during which the recruitment scam took place.
Investigators discovered the initials “MM” in Sil’s diary recovered from his Salt Lake office; acting on this lead, the ED raided Madan’s residence on Saturday.
ED sources have now confirmed that “MM” actually refers to Madan Mitra, who frequently identified himself by this name during live sessions on social media.