The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday submitted in court that former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee had arranged “dummy directors” for the companies owned by his alleged aide Arpita Mukherjee and he himself was the main controller of these companies.
Chatterjee and Mukherjee, who are in judicial remand, were virtually produced in the city sessions court on Wednesday and their remand was extended till September 14.
The two have been booked for money laundering in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitments for government-aided schools when Chatterjee was education minister.
“The directors have not even heard the names of the companies. They are low-wage workers earning Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month. Partha Chatterjee arranged for the dummy people and made them directors in the said companies without their knowledge. From the statement of these dummy directors, it has come to light that Partha Chatterjee was the main controller and decision-maker of the companies,” said an ED official.
The central agency submitted in the court that based on Mukherjee’s statement, which was recorded on August 25 when she was in judicial custody, it has learnt about 201 companies that were involved in money laundering.
One of the companies — APA Utility Services, a partnership firm of Chatterjee and Mukherjee — had bought a 16-decimal plot though cash payment in the Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality area. ED officials said they needed the remand of the two accused to investigate deeper about the “more than 100” bank accounts that were allegedly used for money laundering.
Chatterjee’s lawyers submitted a bail prayer citing his ill health and requested for his physical production in the court.
“My client is suffering from multiple chronic illnesses and even needs assistance to attend to nature’s call. He is 70 and there is no chance that he will flee as he is unable to move by himself. Further, he has been relieved of his ministerial responsibilities, so it is not possible that he will tamper with any evidence,” Chatterjee’s counsel Sukanya Bhattacharya said.
The lawyer for Mukherjee submitted that virtual production of his client was “illegal as it was made without any consent or letter from the jail superintendent”.
“First, the entire submission (pleading for virtual production) made by the central agency mentions only Partha Chatterjee’s name. This is a clear indication of my client’s actual role in this case. Also, we strongly object to the decision to produce my client virtually as it was neither suggested by the superintendent of the Alipore women’s correctional home nor was any consent sought from my client or her lawyers,” said Mukherjee’s lawyer Soham Bandopadhyay.
The court heard the prayers and extended the judicial remand of both accused. The order to produce them virtually was upheld.