In a significant development in the West Bengal school recruitment corruption case, former state minister Partha Chatterjee has been granted bail after spending nearly 28 months in judicial custody. The Calcutta High Court delivered this decision on November 10, 2024, marking a turning point in one of the state's most high-profile corruption scandals.
The Bail Decision and Conditions
The Calcutta High Court bench granted bail to the former education minister while imposing several strict conditions. Chatterjee must surrender his passport to prevent any possibility of leaving the country and provide two sureties of Rs 50,000 each. The court has explicitly prohibited him from contacting any witnesses or attempting to influence the ongoing investigation.
This bail decision comes after Chatterjee's legal team presented arguments highlighting his prolonged detention since his arrest on July 23, 2022. The 73-year-old former minister had been in custody for what his lawyers described as an "excessively long period" without trial conclusion.
Background of the School Recruitment Scam
The scandal revolves around alleged irregularities in the recruitment process for teaching and non-teaching positions through the School Service Commission (SSC). Investigators claim that deserving candidates were denied jobs while positions were given to ineligible individuals in exchange for bribes.
Chatterjee, who served as the state education minister during the period when these alleged irregularities occurred, faces multiple charges including criminal conspiracy, corruption, and money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has been investigating the money laundering aspects of the case, while the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is handling the criminal conspiracy charges.
The case gained national attention when investigators recovered approximately Rs 50 crore in cash from properties linked to Arpita Mukherjee, Chatterjee's close associate. Additionally, documents revealed assets worth around Rs 100 crore connected to the former minister, raising serious questions about the source of these substantial wealth accumulations.
Legal Proceedings and Future Outlook
Despite the bail grant, Chatterjee's legal troubles are far from over. The former minister continues to face serious charges that could result in substantial prison time if convicted. Legal experts suggest that the bail represents procedural progress rather than any indication of case weakness.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 2024, when further arguments and evidence presentations are expected. Meanwhile, the investigation agencies continue to build their case against multiple individuals involved in the alleged recruitment scam.
This development follows earlier bail grants to other accused individuals in the case, including some former SSC officials. However, Chatterjee's bail remains particularly significant given his high-profile status as a former minister and senior political figure in the state.
The school jobs scam has had far-reaching consequences in West Bengal's political landscape, affecting public trust in government recruitment processes and leading to widespread protests by affected job seekers. Thousands of candidates who appeared for these recruitment examinations have been demanding justice and transparent hiring processes.
As the legal process continues, all eyes remain on the Calcutta High Court and how this landmark case will eventually conclude. The bail grant to Partha Chatterjee represents another chapter in this ongoing legal saga that has captured public attention for over two years.
