Supreme Court to decide on ex-minister Partha Chatterjee’s bail in the CBI-led cash-for-jobs scam. Case reassigned to a different bench, excluding Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
New Delhi: Today, on July 17, the Supreme Court of India heard the bail plea of former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee, who has been arrested in connection with the cash-for-jobs scam currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The matter first came up before a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. However, during the hearing, the Supreme Court decided that the case should be listed before another bench.
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The reason was that one of the judges, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, should not be part of the bench hearing this particular matter. As a result, the Court gave directions that the petition be listed before a bench
“other than the one comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi”.
This direction came in light of maintaining the impartiality and fairness of judicial proceedings, although no specific reason for Justice Bagchi’s recusal was officially mentioned in open court.
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It is important to recall that in an earlier order passed in May 2025, the Supreme Court had granted two weeks’ time to the West Bengal government to decide whether it would give permission for prosecution against other co-accused individuals involved in this scam.
This direction was crucial for the progress of the investigation, especially concerning sanction under Section 197 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which is mandatory for prosecuting public servants.
The case against Partha Chatterjee stems from allegations of illegal appointments and bribes taken for recruitment in various educational institutions across West Bengal.
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Crores worth of unaccounted cash and gold were also reportedly recovered during searches, further intensifying the CBI’s investigation.
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