In the ongoing investigation into corruption allegations against Partha Chatterjee, the former education minister of West Bengal, the CBI requested the Supreme Court for four weeks to file a response to his bail petition.
The petition concerns his involvement in the high-profile education recruitment scam.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, leading the bench, questioned why the agency required an additional four weeks for a response.
Following this query, the Supreme Court granted the CBI two weeks to submit their response, and the next hearing has been scheduled accordingly.
The bench expressed its frustration as several state governments failed to meet the deadline to submit their replies.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna emphasized the urgency of the matter, pointing out that the CBI had already delayed addressing the issue and that swift action was necessary.
Plea For Bail Amid Corruption Allegations
Chatterjee, who has been in custody since his arrest on July 23, 2022, faces serious corruption charges related to the school recruitment scam.
His defense team, led by senior lawyer Mukul Rohatgi, contends that the money seized during the investigation was related to a company, and not to the minister’s personal finances.
However, the Court dismissed this argument, emphasizing that Chatterjee controlled the company and purchased properties jointly with co-accused Arpita Mukherjee.
The Court remarked that Chatterjee’s actions, particularly his role in allegedly recruiting fake candidates, appeared to be corrupt, which led to the denial of bail by the Kolkata High Court.
However, earlier, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Chatterjee in a case related to the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has expressed concerns that Chatterjee might tamper with evidence if the court grants him bail.
They argued that his continued detention was essential to preserve the integrity of the investigation and prevent him from interfering with the case.
Moreover, the ED pointed out that even if the Court granted Chatterjee bail, he would remain incarcerated due to his involvement in two separate cases handled by both the CBI and ED.
The Trial Process & Witnesses
The trial in the case has not yet begun, but investigators have identified 183 witnesses, and they have already filed four supplementary charge sheets.
Chatterjee’s defense has also noted his age of 73 and the two-and-a-half years he has already spent in jail. His legal team has urged the Court to consider these factors when deciding on his bail application.
During the proceedings, the Supreme Court questioned the ED’s representative on how long they could keep Chatterjee behind bars, given that the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stipulates a maximum punishment of seven years.
The Court’s observations indicate that it will continue to evaluate Chatterjee’s detention in light of the case’s complexities and legal considerations.
The next hearing is expected to further address the issues of bail, evidence tampering, and the implications of this high-profile case.
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