Bengal Jobs Scam: Calcutta HC Denies Interim Relief To Abhishek Banerjee

The Calcutta High Court has recently refused to grant an interim order to Trinamool Congress (TMC) general secretary Abhishek Banerjee from actions by the central agencies over alleged irregularities in teachers’ recruitment scam in the state.

On April 13, Banerjee sought to revoke Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay’s directive that allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to question the TMC MP from Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on Monday after Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay refused to grant relief to the TMC leader’s application.

During the previous hearing, the high court dispersed a review petition filed by the West Bengal government against the order directing CBI to probe alleged irregularities in recruitment.

Earlier, Abhishek Banerjee moved to the Supreme Court to seek relief from Justice Gangopadhyay’s order. But the Supreme Court stayed the order of the Calcutta High Court directing central probe agencies to question Abhishek Banerjee in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam.

Abhishek Banerjee stated that “In its desperation to ‘harass’ and ‘target’ me, BJP EXPOSES CBI & ED to CONTEMPT OF COURT! SC stayed the Calcutta HC’s order in the morn that granted permission to the Central Agencies to summon me.”

Partha Chatterjee was the state education minister when the scam allegedly took place, and he was arrested after around 26 hours of grilling in connection with the probe. He has been charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.