Four teachers of government-aided primary schools in Murshidabad, who allegedly paid bribes for the jobs, were ordered by a Special (CBI) court on Monday to be arrested.
The four — Saigir Hossain, Simar Hossain, Sougata Mondal and Jahiruddin Sheikh — were earlier mentioned by the CBI as witnesses in a case related to alleged irregularities in recruitment of primary schoolteachers.
Several senior education department officials have been arrested in connection with case.
Judge Arpan Chatterjee of the Special (CBI) Court in Alipore on Monday summoned the four to the court and ordered their arrest for allegedly paying bribes to get the job of schoolteacher.
The court had earlier expressed its dissatisfaction with the CBI and questioned why the agency had not booked the “ineligible” candidates who allegedly bribed to get the jobs that they were not eligible for.
This is the first time since the probe into the alleged recruitment irregularities started that teachers who allegedly paid bribes to get a job
have been arrested. Till now the central agencies have arrested only those who allegedly took the bribe.
The court on Monday summoned Saigir, Simar, Sougata and Jahiruddin, all from Nabagram in Murshidabad. According to the chargesheet submitted by the CBI, they had paid between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 6 lakh to Tapas Mandal for the jobs.
The four were called to the court by issuing summons. The lawyers representing the four teachers moved an anticipatory bail prayer before the court on Monday. The prayer was turned down and the judge asked the candidates why they should be granted bail.
A lawyer present in the court quoted the judge as saying: “Why should these people be granted bail? I am sure Partha, Kuntal did not go to them to take money. You went by yourself. You are the root cause for whom so many people are suffering.”
The court remanded the four in judicial custody till August 21. They were sent to Presidency Correctional Home.
The CBI’s chargesheet in the case mentions several witnesses, including many primary schoolteachers who allegedly got their jobs illegally.
The court on Monday said the arrest order was based on pieces of evidence against the four.