School job case: Charge framing at special PMLA court in Kolkata likely on Monday

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Kolkata, Dec 21 (IANS) The process of framing of charges in the case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the cash-for-school job case in West Bengal is expected to be completed at a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on December 23.

However, the only factor that might delay the process is the eventuality of the ED not being able to ensure that all those shown as accused by the central agency in subsequent charge sheets by the agency are physically present at the court at the time of framing of charges.

Sources said that the two accused persons whose physical presence at the court is uncertain are Sujay Krishna Bhadra and Kalyanmoy Bhattacharya, the son-in-law of former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee, also an accused in the case.

The uncertainties over Bhattacharya’s presence are over the factor that he is currently settled abroad with his wife and Chatterjee’s daughter Sohini Bhattacharya Chatterjee.

However, sources added that the local counsel of Bhattacharya has already intimated the court that he had made all the arrangements to come to India and be present at the court on Monday.

Similarly, uncertainties over Bhadra’s presence are over his recent track record of skipping his physical presence at court on medical grounds.

He is currently in the custody of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe in the school-job case and which has recently shown Bhadra as arrested in the case.

Of the 54 shown as accused by the ED in the school- job case, 29 are individuals and 25 are entities, corporates or trusts.

As per protocol, at the time of framing of the charge sheet while all the 29 accused individuals will have to be present physically, any representative of the accused entities will also have to be present.

After the completion of the process of framing charge, the trial process in the matter will begin. There are indications from the special court that the trial process in the matter will be on a daily basis.

–IANS

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Minister Harsh Sanghavi further shared the images of Sattar with Kejriwal and other prominent AAP leaders. One photo showed Sattar shaking hands with Kejriwal, while another depicted him with Isudan Gadhvi, AAP’s face for the Gujarat Chief Minister’s post during the state elections.

This revelation is set to create another controversy with the AAP leadership being forced to clear the air. Sattar, along with several accomplices, was arrested for posing as ED officials and extorting money from a jeweller in Gandhidham, Kutch.

The fake team conducted a raid at Radhika Jewellers and its owner’s residence, stealing gold, silver, and cash worth Rs 22.25 lakh. The jeweller filed a complaint, leading to the investigation and the subsequent arrests.

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Abdul Sattar’s alleged involvement in this scam has shocked many, particularly in view of his association reportedly with AAP as general secretary.

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This scandal has come at a time when AAP is gearing up to retain power in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. The revelation of this fake ED scam in Gujarat has the potential to damage the party’s image, especially as it claims to champion clean governance, say political commentators.

As the situation develops, all eyes are on Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership to see how they will respond. Whether this is an isolated incident or a sign of deeper issues within the party will likely become clearer in the coming days.

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AAP in Punjab failed to address issues concerning municipal polls: Congress

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Beginning his day at the Khanauri border, the Ludhiana MP met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on his 21st day of a hunger strike till death. Warring described his fight as one for all Punjabis and a testament to the relentless spirit of farmers who are the backbone of the nation.

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He emphasised how the issue has been consistently raised in the Parliament and added Rahul Gandhi has and will continue to amplify the farmers’ voice on national platforms.

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Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi and other Congress leaders joined Warring in condemning the AAP’s tactics, calling them a blatant assault on constitutional values.

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Odisha: Vigilance Dept arrests three including govt official in Rs 4 crore misappropriation case

Bhubaneswar, Dec 12 (IANS) The Odisha Vigilance Department on Thursday arrested three persons including a senior government official on the charges of misappropriation of public funds to the tune of over Rs 4 crore by producing forged documents.

The sleuths arrested two businessmen-Satyaki Pattanaik and Deeptikanta Choudhury- and a government official, Abinash Pradhan, currently posted as Assistant Commercial Tax Officer (ACTO), Jeypore in Koraput district.

Sources said that the Commissionerate of CT & GST, Bhubaneswar during the audit came to know about the fraud and informed the Vigilance Department.

The vigilance subsequently initiated a probe into the allegations of misappropriation of government money by the officials of CT & GST, Bhubaneswar by abusing their official power for refund of VAT and disbursement of over Rs 4.03 crore in favour of the suspicious private persons impersonated as the authorised person of the dealer M/s G.E Verona T&D Ltd (formerly known as GE T&D India Ltd) by tampering financial instruments and entertaining statutory forms containing forged signatures and seals submitted by them.

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