What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
NEW DELHI: Besides the recovery of ₹49 crore cash and jewellery worth ₹5 crore, arrested former Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee had floated a partnership deed with his close aide and actor Arpita Mukherjee in 2012, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) probe into the West Bengal SSC teachers recruitment case has revealed.
The revelations were made by the ED in the court in Kolkata. The ED arrested Chatterjee and Mukherjee on July 23 this year in connection with the case.
The ED informed the court, “Our money laundering probe has revealed that Chatterjee and Mukherjee entered into a partnership with equal share vide a partnership deed dated November 1, 2012 by the name APA Utility Services.”
The ED alleged that properties were then “bought” in the name of this partnership firm of Chatterjee and Mukherjee.
The ED also said that some properties were purchased by the accused persons even in cash.
“That the source of funds used for purchasing these properties is to be found out,” the ED argued in the court, while demanding 14 days’ judicial custody.
The ED said the financial statements, including the balance sheet and profit and loss of account of the partnership firm APA Utility Services, need to be examined and scrutinized.
The ED further stated that the name of the bank where the bank account of APA Utility Services was opened has been revealed by Mukherjee on August 2 only and the details of the same are being sought from the banks concerned and confronted with the accused persons in judicial custody.
The ED said: “The documents seized reveal the close association of Mukherjee with the family members of Chatterjee through a company named Ananta Texfab Pvt Ltd. The registered address of this company is Flat 8A, Block-5, Club Town Heights, Belghoria, Kolkata from where huge cash amounting to ₹27.90 crore were seized.”
“Even shares of this company exchanged hands between the family members of Chatterjee and Mukherjee,” the ED argued.
The ED also alleged that its probe has further revealed that the proceeds of crime have also travelled through a trust which has been formed by the family members of Chatterjee and the funds received and properties acquired by the trust need to be further investigated.
The ED also informed the court that its probe has revealed a number of bank accounts and companies that have been used to launder the proceeds of crime.
“So far, the ED has traced out more than 50 such bank accounts and the examination of those accounts with respect to the credits made therein has to be further conducted to get to the bottom of the tainted funds,” the ED said.
The ED further said that its probe revealed some bogus firms were also used for laundering the proceeds of crime and the same are under active investigation.
It said, “Crores of rupees have been credited in the bank accounts of these firms which exist merely on paper. Further investigation in respect of these firms needs to be conducted.”
Following the ED’s argument in the court, it sent Chatterjee and Mukherjee to 14 days’ of judicial custody.
Chatterjee has been relieved of his ministerial duties by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while Trinamool Congress has removed him from all posts he held in the party.
