Released SSC ‘Tainted Candidates’ List, Includes Several Prominent Political Figures

Agencies, Kolkata, September 1, 2025: In a significant move, the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) on Saturday released the much-awaited list of 'tainted candidates' as per the directive of the Supreme Court. The list, published at 8 PM on the commission’s official website, reveals the names, roll numbers, and serial numbers of 1,804 individuals whose appointments have been declared invalid by the court. These individuals, mostly teachers, are accused of securing their positions through illegal means, including tampering with OMR sheets or leveraging political influence.

This long-pending disclosure comes in compliance with a Supreme Court order from earlier this year, mandating the SSC to release the names of disqualified candidates within a week. The initial list, published earlier, was quickly withdrawn after procedural confusion. However, after an emergency meeting led by SSC Chairman Siddhartha Majumder, a revised list was republished, with two additional names, bringing the total to 1,806 disqualified candidates.

The list has caused an uproar, as it prominently features individuals with close ties to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Several high-profile political figures and their relatives have been implicated in this scandal, leading to a fresh wave of political controversy. The names on the list range from sitting members of the Zilla Parishads to relatives of former and current ministers, and influential local leaders within the TMC.

One of the most prominent names is Ankita Adhikari, the daughter of former state minister Paresh Adhikari. Ankita’s name had long been associated with allegations of her father using his political influence to get her a position in the SSC recruitment. She is now part of the list that has been under scrutiny since the beginning. Similarly, Priyanka Mondal, daughter of TMC leader Debes Mondal, also appears on the list. Priyanka is reportedly linked to Sundarbans TMC leader Sandhya Mondal and has been accused of leveraging her family connections to secure her job. She was listed at serial number 1069 and has reportedly gone into hiding following the release of the list.

The inclusion of several high-profile TMC figures and their families has intensified political tensions, with accusations of widespread corruption in the recruitment process. Opposition parties, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have seized on the release of this list as evidence of entrenched corruption within the ruling party. BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar has vowed to aggressively raise the issue, accusing the TMC of using its political influence to facilitate illegal appointments.

In addition to the names of Ankita Adhikari and Priyanka Mondal, the list also includes the names of prominent TMC leaders and their close associates. These include Bibhas Malik, a powerful TMC leader from Khanakul, Hooghly, and his wife Santoshi Malik. Bibhas, who served as a member of the Hooghly Zilla Parishad between 2013 and 2018, was working in a school in Tarakeswar until he was removed following the court's ruling. His wife Santoshi Malik, listed at serial number 1332, also lost her position. Another controversial name is Namita Adak, wife of Moinul Haque, a senior TMC leader from Hooghly, who has also been implicated in the scandal.

Another significant inclusion is that of Sahina Sultana, a three-time member of the Hooghly Zilla Parishad and former head of education for the Zilla Parishad. Sahina, who allegedly secured her teaching position using political influence during her tenure, has been a target of criticism. However, the most remarkable part of her case is that she has recently ‘switched off’ from the TMC in the wake of this scandal. Reports indicate that Sahina has distanced herself from the ruling party in an apparent effort to deflect blame and avoid further political fallout.

Further adding to the controversy, the list also includes the name of Kavita Burman, a former TMC councillor from Uttar Dinajpur who later joined the BJP. Kavita, who made the switch in party allegiance, is now facing the consequences of her involvement in the SSC recruitment process. Her inclusion in the list has raised eyebrows, with political analysts speculating that this could lead to further tensions between the TMC and BJP in the lead-up to the state elections.

Interestingly, the list also features Pintu Sam, an office-bearer of the BJP Yuva Morcha, indicating that the issue of corruption in the recruitment process may not be confined to one party alone. This has further complicated the narrative, with accusations now flying from all political corners, suggesting that the recruitment system has been tainted by individuals from various political backgrounds.

In addition to these well-known names, other political figures from both the ruling party and opposition, such as Roshnara Begum, daughter of TMC MLA Hamidul Rahman, and Shampa Ghosh, daughter-in-law of Panihati TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh, have been named in the tainted list. Shampa, who previously taught at a school in Naihati, North 24 Parganas, has declined to comment on her inclusion, while Nirmal Ghosh has refrained from speaking publicly, citing ongoing court proceedings.

The controversy surrounding these names has sparked a firestorm of political discourse, with accusations of deep-rooted corruption and nepotism being leveled against the ruling party. Opposition leaders have been quick to accuse the TMC of manipulating the recruitment process for years to favor their supporters and political allies.

The SSC’s decision to cancel the admit cards of disqualified candidates who had applied for the upcoming recruitment exams scheduled for September 7 and 14 has further exacerbated the situation. The court’s stringent order, barring these candidates from participating in the exams, has heightened the tension surrounding the recruitment scam.

The list, which was initially released with 1,804 names, was later updated to 1,806, adding two more individuals. While the SSC has maintained that the list is comprehensive, there are still concerns over its accuracy, as it omits critical information like the addresses of the candidates and the schools where they were employed. This has led to speculation that the list may still be incomplete and that some names might have been left out.

In the aftermath of the list’s publication, political leaders from all sides are calling for a thorough investigation into the recruitment process. The timing of the release, just ahead of the upcoming elections, has turned this into a key political issue, with both the ruling TMC and the opposition using the controversy to further their agendas.

The publication of this tainted candidates list has opened up new political battles in West Bengal. As the state gears up for elections, this scandal could serve as a significant flashpoint, shaping the political discourse in the coming months. The controversy surrounding the SSC recruitment process will continue to unfold, and it remains to be seen how this issue will impact the state's political landscape in the near future.