The Supreme Court on Monday deferred the hearing of Partha Chatterjee’s bail plea in a money laundering case linked to recruitment irregularities in West Bengal.
The former state education minister and MLA is accused in the cash-for-jobs teacher recruitment scam.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that it needed time to review the custody records related to Chatterjee. During the hearing, Chatterjee’s counsel submitted an affidavit detailing his time in custody in other cases.
In a prior session, the court had sought information on Chatterjee’s judicial and police custody periods. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Chatterjee, informed the court that his client has been imprisoned for nearly 2.5 years. Highlighting his age of 73, Rohatgi noted that 183 witnesses are listed in the case, and the trial has yet to commence.
Serious Allegations and Opposition to Bail
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), opposed the bail plea, citing the gravity of the charges and the significant amount of cash seized—over ₹21 crore from an associate’s residence. The court acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and was informed that a chargesheet had been filed.
The court also noted the low conviction rate in money laundering cases while seeking updates on the investigation’s status. Additionally, Chatterjee remains in judicial custody for another case being investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Background
Chatterjee was arrested in July 2022 by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), following allegations of irregularities in teacher recruitment under the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). In May 2023, he was lodged at the Presidency Correctional Home.
The scam involves illegal appointments of Group C and D staff, primary teachers, and assistant teachers for classes IX-XII. The Calcutta High Court had previously directed the CBI to probe the recruitment scam, while the ED continues its parallel investigation into money laundering aspects.
The TMC suspended Chatterjee from the party and removed him from all party positions after his arrest. The Supreme Court will review the case in its next hearing.
