LOOKEAST

Special Correspondent

February 17, 2026

THE chapters in the controversial multi–crore teacher recruitment scam in West Bengal are yet to be closed. Fresh revelations about the complicity between the ruling clique and a senior leader of the Rastriya Sawamsevak Sangh or RSS have started surfacing in Birbhum district.

■ Biswa Bangla Biswavidyalaya

Grapevine has it that one Jayashree Saha, sister of Dr Pranab Saha who happened to be the vice chairman of West Bengal School Service Commission(WBSSC)  in 2016, was alleged to have pocketed the appointment letter despite submitting a blank answer sheet during the examination.

Jayashree Saha however lost her job in the wake of the historic Supreme Court verdict on the teachers’ recruitment scam.

Dr. Saha since then got a prized posting as a professor of the Bengali department at Purni Devi College in Bolpur subdivision while his wife Keka Ghosh did manage to become a professor at the Viswa Bangla University

But the twist of the tale lies somewhere else and has started thereafter. Dr. Saha since then got a prized posting as a professor of the Bengali department at Purni Devi College in Bolpur subdivision while his wife Keka Ghosh did manage to become a professor at the Viswa Bangla University, thanks to alleged ‘donations’ to the ruling regime.

The twist begins here; Mrs Ghosh had shortly thereafter applied for the post of Assistant Professor in the department of Bengali in the prestigious Viswa Bharati University. Dr Saha reportedly roped in Mr Jaladhar Mahato, a very senior RSS functionary in the state, who took Saha to the university vice chancellor and began pleading in favour of Mrs Saha.

The RSS leader who suddenly appeared on the scene, sought an appointment with the VB vice chancellor and met the latter, taking Dr Saha in his company

Quite interestingly, Keka Ghosh’s candidature had, prior to this, already been sucked out of the candidates’ list as she failed to make it to the cut-off mark stipulated by the Viswa Bharati authorities. Against the cut–off mark of 90 (this was the lowest mark of a candidate shortlisted by the VB), Jayashree Saha scored 50 and naturally, her name didn’t figure in the interview shortlist.

The RSS leader who suddenly appeared on the scene, sought an appointment with the VB vice chancellor and met the latter, taking Dr Saha in his company. Mr Mahato pleaded with the VC for lowering the cut—off mark to facilitate a backdoor entry for an interview for Keka Ghosh.

what is the compelling reason for Mr Mahato to plead for an ‘out–of–the way route’ in favour of Keka Ghosh; and finally, has Mr Mahato received a part of the recruitment kickback from Dr Pranab Saha

When the VC declined to cooperate citing the latest instance of the jail term of the recruitment scammers, Mr Mahato decided to approach the RSS leader Raghunandanji (who is quite up in the ladder in the organisation hierarchy) and began to exert pressure on the VC through him.

Now the questions that have been doing the rounds in Birbhum district include; what is the connection between Dr Saha and Mr Mahato; what is the compelling reason for Mr Mahato to plead for an ‘out–of–the way route’ in favour of Keka Ghosh; and finally, has Mr Mahato received a part of the recruitment kickback from Dr Pranab Saha ?

With the assembly polls barely round the corner, the Sangha leadership might find it tough to negotiate these uncomfortable questions, especially when Jaladhar Mahato has turned himself almost incommunicado. ■