| ASPECTS | DETAILS |
| Case Title | Calcutta HC denies bail to ex-WB minister in cash-for-jobs scam |
| Introduction | Partha Chatterjee, former Education Minister of West Bengal, sought bail in a cash-for-jobs scam related to illegal recruitment of Assistant Teachers under the West Bengal Board of Primary Education. |
| Factual Background | Chatterjee and co-accused Arpita Mukherjee were found with large amounts of money, assets, and jewellery allegedly purchased with illegal proceeds from the recruitment scam. |
| Legal Issues | Bail application in a case involving illegal recruitment, money laundering, influence on probe, and pre-trial detention. |
| Applicable Law | Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. |
| Analysis | The court found corroborating material linking Chatterjee to Mukherjee, from whom crores of illegal proceeds were seized. The court rejected arguments for bail due to potential tampering of witnesses. |
| Conclusion | The bail application was dismissed. Chatterjee was not able to satisfy the twin conditions under Section 45 of the PMLA, and release at the present stage was deemed inappropriate. |
| Current Scenario | Chatterjee remains in custody pending trial. |
CASE SUMMARY – The Calcutta High Court denied bail to former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee in a cash-for-jobs recruitment scam involving illegal recruitment of Assistant Teachers. The court found that large amounts of money and assets seized from Chatterjee and co-accused Arpita Mukherjee were allegedly obtained through the scam. Despite Chatterjee’s age and health conditions, the court rejected the bail application, citing the potential influence on the probe and the need for a speedy trial. Chatterjee remains in custody pending trial.
SOURCE – TheDailyGuardian
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