The CBI has summoned state education secretary Manish Jain for questioning in connection with its probe into alleged irregularities in recruitments in state government-aided schools.
Jain has been asked to appear at the CBI’s Nizam Palace office on Thursday.
The central agency has questioned the senior IAS officer once before, in July last year.
CBI officers said Jain’s name cropped up when the agency was questioning former state education minister Partha Chatterjee and former chairman of the school service commission’s advisory committee, Shanti Prasad Sinha, in connection with the alleged irregularities in school recruitments.
“The senior bureaucrat is believed to have sent a file to the school service commission for the formation of the advisory committee,” said a CBI officer.
Calcutta High Court has called the committee illegal.
CBI officers said Jain would be asked on whose recommendation or direction the advisory committee was formed and whether Jain was in the know of things.
The officers said Chatterjee, now in custody, hadmentioned Jain’s name on several occasions while facing interrogators. The former minister had purportedly said he would sign files sent by the secretary.
Insiders in the central agency said Jain’s name had also cropped up when Sinha, who was arrested last August for his alleged role in irregularities in recruitments, was questioned.
Sinha became chairman of the school service commission’s advisory committee in 2016 and remained in the post till 2021.
Senior CBI officers said they have come across several files related to appointments bearing Jain’s signature.
“His statements in response to our questions will be recorded and used as evidence in the case,” the official said.
Senior CBI officers probing the case said the advisory committee is central tothe investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitments.
“Jain will be asked whether he was aware for what purpose the expert committee was formed. If he was not aware, we would like to know from him why he forwardedthe file related to the formation of the committee to the minister (Chatterjee),” an officer said.
“We want to know whether the education secretary was under any pressure to get the file cleared by Chatterjee.”