Calcutta HC denies bail to Partha Chatterjee, associates in SSC recruitment scam case

The Calcutta High Court has denied bail to former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and four other individuals accused in the SSC recruitment scam. Chatterjee, along with Subiresh Bhattacharya, Kalyanmay Gangopadhyay, Shanti Prasad Sinha, and Ashok Kumar Saha, had sought bail in connection with the case, which involves allegations of illegal recruitment in the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC). The decision was delivered by a special bench led by Justice Tapobrata Chakraborty. The court emphasized that granting bail would harm the ongoing investigation and adversely affect public trust in the education system.

Chatterjee, who had previously been granted bail in the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case linked to the same scandal, faced rejection for bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case. His associate, Arpita Mukherjee, was granted bail in the same case earlier, leading to expectations that Chatterjee might also be granted bail. However, the court found the charges of corruption, forgery, and illegal recruitment to be serious, and decided that releasing the accused would be detrimental to the investigation and could influence potential witnesses.

The court's ruling reflects concerns about the impact of the case on the education system and the integrity of public institutions. Justice Chakraborty stated that releasing the accused at this stage could lead to further interference with the investigation. The case, which involves multiple arrests and extensive investigations by the CBI, is ongoing, with no immediate resolution in sight. The accused will remain in custody as the trial progresses.