Today, On 1st October, The Supreme Court asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond to Partha Chatterjee’s bail plea in the school jobs-for-cash scam. In April, the Calcutta High Court denied him bail, citing the recovery of Rs.54.88 crore in cash, jewellery, and other assets from Chatterjee and a co-accused. The case involves allegations of corruption in school job recruitments. The ED’s response is awaited.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court, On Tuesday, issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding the bail plea submitted by former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
The case involves allegations of money laundering linked to the infamous school-jobs-for-cash scam in West Bengal.
A single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court on Monday denied the bail request of former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
Partha Chatterjee arrested by the ED in July 2022 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with a multi-crore scam, where jobs in government-aided schools were allegedly sold in exchange for hefty bribes during his tenure as education minister. This scam sparked widespread outrage, leading to a full-fledged investigation by the ED, which has been looking into the financial irregularities connected to the scam.
The scam involved allegations that undeserving candidates were appointed as teachers and other school staff in exchange for large sums of money, depriving qualified individuals of employment opportunities. During the investigation, the ED discovered assets worth several crores, including cash and properties, allegedly linked to Chatterjee and his close associates.
Chatterjee spent over 21 months in custody since his arrest and repeatedly sought bail, maintaining his innocence. However, his bail requests have been denied by lower courts, citing the severity of the charges and the ongoing investigation.
The Supreme Court’s issuance of notice to the ED on his latest bail plea is a significant development, as it provides the ED an opportunity to respond to the arguments put forward by Chatterjee’s legal team. The case continues to attract public attention due to its political and financial implications, and the court’s decision on the bail plea will be closely watched.