Former Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with school level recruitment scam and money were on Friday remanded in 14 days' judicial custody by a special PMLA court.
While Chatterjee was sent to high security Presidency Jail, Mukherjee was taken to women's prision amid fears of threat to Arpita's life expressed by the ED.
Subsequently the jail authorities have been directed to arrange special security for Arpita, sources said adding even food and water for the accused would have to be pre-tasted. Contesting Chatterjee's bail plea the ED told the court that whatever had been recovered from the accused persons' houses were just tip of the iceberg and hence they would be required to be grilled again.
The court subsequently allowed the ED to interrogate the duo in jail. Chatterjee and Mukherjee have been in ED remand since July 23 when they were arrested after Rs 22 crores, jewellery and documents were recovered from her appartment.
Chatterjee is also facing charges of illegal appointments — for cash — of teaching and non-teaching staff in Bengal schools Chatterjee a former number two in Mamata Banerjee Cabinet handling a number of important ministries was subsequently relieved of his ministerial duties by the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, even as Chatterjee denied any connection with the money and property documents recovered from Arpita's house the ED on Friday told the court that Arpita had told the investigators that the mountain of cash recovered from her house belonged to Chatterjee.
Rs 50 crore and jewellery and property deeds worth tens of crores were recovered from Arpita's two apartments.
The ED also told the court that during a face-to-face grilling Chatterjee denied close acquaintance with Arpita. When the ED asked as to how his name figured as a nominee in as many as 31 LIC policies of Arpita the former minister kept quiet.