Calcutta HC rebukes ED for presenting ‘incomplete papers’ in job scam case

Judge Sinha criticises ED's investigation into school job scam case, sparks political controversy. ED's probe into Leaps and Bounds' finances found to be incomplete. Court directs ED to provide details of transactions, balance sheet and statement of accounts. Trinamool Congress and BJP embarrassed. Allegations of 'setting' between the two parties raised.

Calcutta High Court Judge Amrita Sinha has criticised the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the school job scam case. Her comments sparked a political controversy and embarrassed not only the ruling Trinamool Congress but also the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Monday, Justice Sinha came down heavily on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and said that she could “smell something” and that “all is not well” with the ongoing probe. 

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The Judge had several questions for Mithilesh Mishra, the Assistant Director of ED who was present in court and expressed her displeasure at the ED’s conduct of the investigation into the finances of Leaps and Bounds, a company whose CEO is Abhishek Banerjee. The Court pointed out that the list of assets provided by Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee appeared to be “grossly incomplete”.

“The assets of Sri. Abhishek Banerjee, who is a member of parliament and CEO of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited, as disclosed in the letter forwarded to the Enforcement Directorate mentions only three insurance policies with Life Insurance Corporation of India. No further details of the assets of the said CEO have been mentioned,’ Justice Sinha said in the order. 

The Court observed that a bare perusal of the main objects and the incidental/ancillary objects of the company ( Leaps and Bounds) gives you the impression it catered to all types of business, from a pin to an elephant.