Partha Chatterjee was arrested after around 26 hours of questioning.
West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering case linked to the alleged teacher recruitment scam in the state on Saturday. The arrest came hours after Rs 20 crore was recovered from the minister's aide Arpita Mukherjee who has been arrested as well.
The probe agency, which investigates financial crimes, has got the minister's custody for two days.
The Trinamool Congress leader was questioned through the night following the recovery of the cash. During the questioning, Mr Chatterjee did not cooperate with the investigators as a result of which he was arrested, official sources told NDTV.
"Partha Chatterjee was arrested after overnight interrogation. During questioning, Mr Chatterjee complained of uneasiness following which his health was examined by two doctors brought by the investigators. The questioning resumed after the doctors gave a go-ahead," an official told NDTV.
The industries and commerce minister in Bengal, Mr Chatterjee held the education portfolio when the alleged scam took place.
The Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of targeting political opponents using central agencies, but said if Mr Chatterjee was found guilty by a court, they would act against him.
"We are closely watching the situation, and we have all faith in the judiciary. After the judiciary gives their verdict, we will be able to take a decision. The All India Trinamool Congress will not tolerate any malpractice in the party or government. After the judiciary comes out their verdict, then only the Trinamool Congress will act," Trinamool Congress leader and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim said at a news briefing.
"We believe the BJP is behind the play. Whoever has switched to BJP has been untouched and whoever has stayed back is being harassed," he added.
Speaker Biman Banerjee said the probe agency must inform the speaker before arresting a member of the assembly.
"The ED or CBI, while arresting any MP or MLA, has to inform the speaker of the Lok Sabha or assembly. This is the constitutional norm. But I have not received any communication from ED about Chatterjee's arrest," he said.
Mr Chatterjee's 26-hour interrogation began Friday morning and was carried out throughout the night after Rs 20 crore was recovered from the house of his close associate of Arpita Mukherjee.
"The said amount is suspected to be proceeds of crime of the said SSC scam," the probe agency said in a statement.
Trinamool Congress has distanced itself from Arpita Mukherjee saying she has no links with the party.
"The money recovered by ED has nothing to do with Trinamool. Those who are named in this investigation, it is their responsibility to answer the questions related to them or their lawyers," TMC General Secretary Kunal Ghosh tweeted.
Apart from the Enforcement Directorate, or ED, the alleged scam is being investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation. While the ED is looking into the money trail in the scam, the CBI is investigating the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group-C and D staff and teachers in state-sponsored and aided schools.