Mamata Banerjee sacks Partha Chatterjee from all posts, because her party is 'very strict'

Partha Chatterjee, arrested by ED in the West Bengal SSC scam, has been removed from all posts in the West Bengal government. Chatterjee was the minister-in-charge of multiple portfolios in the Mamata Banerjee-led government. 

Chatterjee was the minister for Industries, Commerce and Enterprise, Parliamentary Affairs, Information Technology and Electronics and Public Enterprises and Industrial Reconstruction. Effective July 28, 2022, he has been removed from all these posts. 

#UPDATE | Partha Chatterjee, accused in West Bengal SSC recruitment scam, relieved of his duties as Minister in Charge of his Departments with effect from 28th July: Government of West Bengal pic.twitter.com/gM34aQr8Yi

— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2022

CM Banerjee speaks: Speaking at a board meeting for industrial promotion, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said, "Money [has been] recovered from a girl [Arpita Mukherjee] and they [the media] are showing it continuously. I have relieved him [Partha Chatterjee] because my party [TMC] is a very strict party. If someone thinks that they can change the perception by showing this, then they are wrong. The game is very big. I won't tell [anything] now." 

The cost of Rs 50 crore and 5 kg gold: The development comes after the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI launched a thorough investigation into the recruitment process for government teacher jobs in West Bengal. The investigating agencies found that there were several irregularities in the recruitment process from the time when Partha Chatterjee was the Education Minister in West Bengal. 

Reportedly, Chatterjee and associates received kickbacks in lieu of giving ineligible candidates government jobs. The ED has so far unearthed more than Rs 50 crore in unaccounted cash and gold from associates of Chatterjee in Kolkata. 

Third in the chain of command: Partha Chatterjee was the No 3 in command in the ruling TMC party and a close associate of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Following his arrest by the ED a few days ago, Mamata Banerjee and the government have distanced themselves from the case. 

The opposition, BJP and Congress, had demanded the government remove Chatterjee from the position of minister.

In depth: How much has the ED recovered in the SSC scam case so far? 

Partha Chatterjee's long list of controversies: From his name cropping up in the I-Core chit fund case to a luxury apartment for dogs.