West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha Faces Key Court Hearing Over Rs 12.73 Crore Money Laundering Allegations
In Kolkata, the spotlight is on West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha as he prepares for a major hearing in a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court this Saturday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has flagged suspicious financial transactions worth Rs 12.73 crore linked to his bank accounts, tied to the state’s primary teacher recruitment scam.
Sinha, who surrendered to the court on September 6, got interim bail on a Rs 10,000 bond with some conditions. Now, his lawyer will respond to the ED’s claims about these alleged fake transactions in accounts he holds alone or with family. Sources say the ED might push for his custody if his explanations don’t add up.
What exactly is the ED asking? They want clear answers on two big points. First, where did the money come from for all those cash deposits? The agency points to a series of inward remittances, mostly in cash, hitting Sinha’s accounts during a key period. Second, why didn’t Sinha or his family mention these funds in their tax returns?
The ED already grilled Sinha, but he couldn’t satisfy them on either issue. These details popped up in the agency’s sixth supplementary charge sheet filed earlier this month at the Kolkata court. It highlights how irregularities in the West Bengal primary teacher recruitment scam funneled illegal money into the minister’s accounts.
Take one example: Between January 2016 and November 2019—the height of the alleged school recruitment irregularities—Sinha and his wife Kuntala deposited Rs 1.18 crore in cash into their joint account at a public sector bank in Kolkata. The ED calls these "fictitious transactions" and links them directly to the scam.
As the hearing approaches, all eyes are on what Sinha says. His responses could decide if the ED gets to question him further in custody. This case keeps unfolding in the broader probe into the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam, raising questions about money laundering and accountability in state affairs. Stay tuned for updates from the court.
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