The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has launched a massive offensive against the accused in the education scam in West Bengal by issuing lookout notice against an academician who was president of the state's primary school council. Manik Bhattacharya, who is also a Trinamool Congress MLA, has not deposed before the ED office in Kolkata despite repeated notices being sent to him.
He was sent nine notices by the ED. But Bhattacharya was interrogated only once last month for 11 hours. He is currently absconding, according to ED officers. Lookout notices have been served at his houses in Nadia and Kolkata.
Another person wanted by the ED for interrogation and has evaded series of summons is vice chancellor of the North Bengal university Subiresh Bhattacharya. Subiresh, who hails from Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas, also has an apartment in Kolkata’s New Town. His apartment has been sealed by the ED. Subiresh on Thursday reached Kolkata from Siliguri and said that he would first enter his apartment in Kolkata’s New Town.
When asked how he would enter the flat that has been sealed, he said: “I know how to enter my own house. I will go and enter. I don’t bother who did what with my apartment.”
Possibility is there that he might be intercepted by the ED on Thursday as he was the former chairman of the School Service Commission, which is under the scanner for the mammoth education scam in Bengal.
An ED officer said, “We are desperately looking the money and where it has been kept. We will continue with our search operation.”
According to the central agency, three prominent youth leaders of the party, including one councilor of Kolkata corporation, who have close connection with arrested TMC leader Partha Chatterjee, are also absconding. ED officials also went to Jamshedpur to carry out search operations in connection with that.
