Probe into Ajit Mahta Job Scam Names Former West Bengal Minister

Kolkata: During the investigation into the arrest of Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Mahta, a former minister from West Bengal has come under the scanner, according to a state police source.

Mahta was arrested on the night of October 29 on charges of taking 10 lakh rupees from a person who was promised a government office job.

The source said Mahta told investigators that the person's name had been recommended by a former West Bengal minister. This minister is from Jhargram district, which is also Mahta's native district.

Police have not made the former minister's name public. An officer involved in the case said, 'At this stage, we cannot say anything more, as the case is still at the beginning of the investigation.'

The officer clarified that the former minister does not feature in the FIR lodged against Mahta. Nevertheless, since Mahta named him during questioning, the investigating officer has initiated a probe in that direction.

The jobs for which money was taken were linked to the West Bengal Forest Department and the West Bengal West Regional Development Department.

The arrest followed a complaint by a man named Sajal Das. He alleged that the Trinamool leader had taken nearly 10 lakh rupees from him in several installments over a period, promising a government job.

In his complaint, Das said that even after paying the money, he did not get the promised job. He also claimed that when he asked Mahta for the job or for his money back, he was threatened with serious consequences.