Rs 40 crore and counting: Rs 20 crore cash, gold seized from Arpita Mukherjee’s second house

At least Rs 20 crore in cash and gold jewellery and bars have been recovered from another house of Arpita Mukherjee. Bank officials are still counting the cash at the spot with note counting machines.

Sources say the ED also found more documents today that are being examined. During last week's raid, the officials have recovered a diary with around 40 pages of notes that could provide crucial leads in the investigation. The ED has also recovered several deeds of properties that could implicate Partha Chatterjee.

The ED officials had raided the house as part of their investigations. During questioning, Arpita Mukherjee has given information about all her properties. She has a couple of flats at Belgharia and another one at Rajdanga (in the southern part of the city).

The officials had to break open the main door of the flat as the keys could not be found.

Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on Saturday -- a day after Rs 20 crore was discovered. Arpita Mukherjee has reportedly told investigators that the money was kickback from the state's massive teacher recruitment scam.

She also said that only Partha Chatterjee and his men had access to the room where the cash was kept. They used to come once every 10 days.

"Partha used my house and that of another woman as a mini-bank. That other woman is also his close friend," Arpita Mukherjee reportedly told investigators.

Asked today whether he would step down from his post, Mr Chatterjee, visibly irritated, shot back "What is the reason (to tender the resignation)?"