After Ankita Adhikari, the dismissed teacher and daughter of former Bengal Education Minister Paresh Adhikari it could be the turn of Sukanya Mondal the daughter of heavy-duty Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal currently in CBI custody for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling.
In further setback for the Mamata Banerjee Government, the Calcutta High Court — while hearing a matter on irregularities in appointment of primary teachers — on Wednesday directed Sukanya and five other relatives of Anubrata Mondal to appear before it by Thursday noon with all their testimonials.
Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay passed the order following an affidavit filed by advocate Firdaus Shamim who claimed that Sukanya, her cousin Satyaki Mondal, Arka Dutta a personal assistant of Anubrata Mondal and his brother had secured teacher's job in primary school without clearing the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) exams
Not only Sukanya had obtained her job even after failing in the TET exams but also she had never visited her place of work from where she drew regular salary.
"Without clearing the TET exams she got appointment in school of her choice situated near her house ... She also would not attend her duty and we have evidence to show how the attendance register was brought to her house for her signature," advocate Shamim told the High Court.
Earlier Ankita Adhikari lost her job and had to return the entire salary — she earned on account of her illegal appointment — following a High Court order.
In a similar matter jailed former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee's security guard Biswambhar Mondal and his ten relatives secured Teachers'jobs through backdoor the advocate told the Court.
Chatterjee was last month arrested by the Enforcement Directorate investigating school level recruitment scam and money laundering. Mondal was arrested last week for his alleged involvement in cattle smuggling.
The Wednesday order comes as a double whammy for Sukanya currently under CBI scanner in cattle smuggling case. She reportedly owns a number of prime properties including lands, business interests in partnership with her father. A group of CBI officials on Wednesday reached Anubrata Mondal's Bolpur house to interrogate Sukanya but she refused to oblige. The CBI was considering legal actions against her sources said.