CBI flags fresh irregularities in Bengal school jobs scam, awaits FIR approval

Allegations of bribery in teacher appointments in West Bengal have widened, with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) informing the Calcutta High Court on July 1 that kickbacks were allegedly paid not only for regular posts but also for supernumerary appointments as work-education and physical education teachers in upper primary schools.

Appearing before Justice Biswajit Basu, CBI counsel Dhiraj Trivedi said that further investigation is necessary to determine how many candidates secured jobs in these categories through bribes.

“Since the CBI is already probing the other cases related to this alleged scam, it needs the court's permission to start a separate investigation on the supernumerary recruitment irregularities,” Trivedi submitted.

He added that a fresh FIR would be required to begin the investigation, but the state government has not yet granted approval for it.

In the absence of this permission, the CBI will need the court’s directive to proceed.

Trivedi also emphasized that various elements of the ongoing multi-crore school jobs scam in West Bengal are interconnected.

“Any investigation by the CBI in the matter will have to be started only after registering a separate FIR in the matter,” he said.

Justice Basu noted that a more detailed hearing is necessary and scheduled the next session for July 4.

Earlier on the same day, another single-judge bench, led by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, raised concerns over the recent recruitment notice issued by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in May.

The notice aims to fill vacancies created after the Supreme Court canceled 25,753 teaching and non-teaching appointments in April.