"Those who sold jobs will go behind bars": BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar on raids at Firhad Hakim's residence

CBI conducted searches at the residence of senior West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim in Kolkata in connection with its investigation into the alleged irregularities in recruitments made by the civic bodies in the state.

"Calcutta High Court Justice had given the verdict that there are proofs of corruption in municipalities and corporations. Firhad Hakim is the minister of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, so it's obvious that there would be a raid on his house. This is the court's verdict so CBI is doing the enquiry accordingly. All those who sold jobs by giving money will go behind bars in the coming days," Majumdar told ANI.

Earlier in the day, amid the CBI raids at the residence of Hakim, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee said that those who indulge in corruption should be punished.

Chatterjee said, "Earlier, when many people were arrested from Hooghly, some evidence was recovered...So CBI has gone for an enquiry to their houses... Those who indulge in corruption should be punished..."

Reacting to the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) allegations of misusing the government agencies by the Centre, the BJP MP said, "When thieves commit theft, they call it 'revenge politics'. But the truth must come out. PM Modi gave the slogan, 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga'. The country is running on 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga'".

The central agency conducted searches at around 12 places in West Bengal in a case related to alleged irregularities in municipal bodies' recruitment, officials said.

The multiple raids carried out by the CBI included Kolkata, Kanchrapara, Barrackpore, Halisahar, Dumdum, North Dum Dum, Krishnanagar, Taki and Kamarhati.The raids were conducted at the premises of certain individuals including public servants in the ongoing municipal bodies recruitment investigation.

A case has been registered against the director of a private company and some other individuals following the orders of the Calcutta High Court, CBI officials said.CBI officials alleged that all contracts pertaining to various Municipalities, District Primary School Councils and others for the recruitment of Group C and Group D employees were given to the private company.

It was further alleged that the said company was entrusted with all the tasks like setting up of question papers, printing and scanning of OMR sheets and preparation of the final merit list. It was also alleged that the Director of the private company and other individuals including public servants hatched a conspiracy among themselves.

In pursuance of that conspiracy, the accused who was responsible for the printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets allegedly facilitated the illegal appointments of several unmeritorious candidates in several municipalities in lieu of money, CBI officials said. (ANI)