Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee, a key accused in the Rs 21.9-crore school jobs scam, has been released on bail after over three years in custody, marking a major twist in the high-profile corruption case.
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KOLKATA: Former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, a key accused in the alleged West Bengal school jobs scam, was released on bail on Tuesday, marking the end of more than three years in judicial custody.
Chatterjee, arrested on July 23, 2022, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the multi-crore recruitment scandal, walked free after furnishing his bail bond. His release followed the completion of witness examinations before a trial court in cases investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
ALSO READ: Decks Cleared for Ex-Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee’s Release in School Jobs Scam Case
The leader had been admitted for the past 203 days to a private hospital in Mukundapur, southeast Kolkata, due to health concerns. Upon his discharge, hundreds of supporters gathered outside the facility, chanting “Partha da zindabad” as he left for his Naktala residence in south Kolkata.
Chatterjee, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MLA since 2001, held several key portfolios in the Mamata Banerjee-led government between 2011 and 2022, including Education Minister from 2016 until his arrest.
Background: The West Bengal School Jobs Scam
The alleged teacher recruitment scam rocked the state’s education sector in 2022. The controversy erupted when unsuccessful candidates of the Teachers’ Eligibility Test (TET) approached the Calcutta High Court, alleging massive irregularities and corruption in the appointment process of:
- Primary school teachers
- Assistant teachers
- Group D staff in government schools
Responding to the petitions, the High Court ordered a CBI probe on June 8, 2022. The agency filed an FIR the next day, while the ED launched a money-laundering investigation on June 24, 2022.
During coordinated raids on July 22, 2022, officials reportedly seized documents linked to 12 immovable properties allegedly owned by Chatterjee’s associates. In a separate raid on his aide Arpita Mukherjee’s residence, the ED recovered ₹21.9 crore in cash and gold jewellery worth over ₹76 lakh.
ALSO READ: CBI Court Grants Bail to Ex-WB Minister Partha Chatterjee in SSC Recruitment Scam
Partha Chatterjee had earlier secured bail in the ED cases and was granted conditional bail by the Supreme Court in the CBI cases. However, he remained in custody as per the apex court’s order that required him to stay incarcerated until the completion of witness examinations.
With the court proceedings now entering a new phase, Chatterjee’s release marks a major development in one of the most politically sensitive corruption cases in West Bengal’s recent history.
While the TMC leadership has maintained silence on the latest development, party insiders say Chatterjee’s release could reignite debates within the party ahead of upcoming state elections. Opposition parties, including the BJP and CPI(M), have demanded a speedy trial and full disclosure of assets linked to the scam.
Legal experts suggest that Chatterjee’s bail does not imply acquittal, and the case is expected to continue in trial courts under the supervision of the CBI and ED.
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