Former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee Granted Bail in School Recruitment Scam

Kolkata: Former West Bengal Education Minister and key accused in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam, Partha Chatterjee, was granted bail on Tuesday. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested him on 23 July 2022 in connection with the case. Chatterjee had been hospitalized for several months due to kidney and heart-related ailments.

Released After Bail Bond Submission
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was later implicated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in multiple irregularities related to the recruitment of teachers for Classes 9–10 and 11–12, as well as Group-C and D non-teaching staff under the 2016 WBSSC panel. Chatterjee, who had been admitted to a private hospital in Mukundpur, South-East Kolkata for the past 203 days, was released from judicial custody after submitting his bail bond.

CBI Court Approves Bail Petition
Chatterjee’s release came after the completion of witness examination in a special CBI court case concerning alleged corruption in the recruitment of Group-C staff. Following the deposition of the eighth and final witness, the CBI court approved his bail petition and sent the release order to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, who issued directives to the Presidency Jail authorities. Subsequently, Chatterjee was discharged from the hospital, where he had been under treatment since 22 April. He had earlier received bail in ED cases as well. The Supreme Court had on 18 August ordered that bail in the Group-C recruitment case could be granted “after recording statements of key witnesses before the trial court.”

Chatterjee Speaks to Supporters
Upon leaving the hospital, Chatterjee drove to his Naklatla residence in South Kolkata amid an emotional gathering of supporters chanting slogans of “Partha Da Zindabad.” Eyewitnesses reported that the former minister sat beside his driver with folded hands and teary eyes. Chatterjee expressed confidence in the triumph of truth and vowed to seek justice for the people of his constituency, who have elected him five times.

West Bengal BJP President, Samik Bhattacharya, commented, “Bail does not mean Chatterjee is acquitted of his crimes. The law will take its course.”