Subires Bhattacharyya, vice-chancellor of North Bengal University and former chairman of the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC), was on Tuesday remanded in CBI custody till September 26.
Bhattacharyya, who has been arrested in connection with allegedly illegal recruitment of teachers for government-aided schools when he was chairman of the school service commission, has been charged with cheating and criminal conspiracy and also under the prevention of corruption act.
CBI officers said Bhattacharyya played a “vital role” in the “conspiracy”.
“He was the chairman of the school service commission when this (illegal recruitments) started. He misled the agency when we first questioned him over the matter,” said an officer of the central agency
The CBI had questioned Bhattacharyya several times before he was arrested on Monday.
“It was on his instructions that the manipulation (of scores of candidates) was done,” counsel appearing for the CBI told the court on Tuesday and prayed for a 10-day remand for Bhattacharyya.
A lawyer representing Bhattacharyya said his client had a clean track record and been attached to several reputable institutions.
“My client was principal of Fakir Chand College in Diamond Harbour till 2013. He was chairman of the school service commission between 2014 and 2018. He is now vice-chancellor of North Bengal University. The SSC acts under the direction of a superior authority,” the lawyer said.
He alleged that his client had been asked by the CBI to tell lies. He also submitted that Bhattacharyya had suffered an injury in a finger of his left hand while in CBI custody.
After hearing both sides, the court sent Bhattacharyya to CBI’s remand till September 26.