NEW DELHI, Dec 13: The Supreme Court granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee on Friday in a money laundering case linked to the cash-for-job scandal.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan stated that Chatterjee would be released on February 1, 2025, contingent on the trial court framing charges before the winter break and vulnerable witnesses being examined in the second and third weeks of January 2025.
The apex court remarked that upon his release, Chatterjee would be prohibited from holding any public office but could continue to serve as an MLA.
The bench emphasized that a suspect cannot be held indefinitely, necessitating a balance between the rights of the accused and those of the victims.
On December 4, the Supreme Court had reserved its ruling on his bail application, noting, “On the surface, you appear to be a corrupt individual. Crores of rupees were seized from your premises.”
In October, the top court had issued a notice to the ED regarding Chatterjee’s appeal against a Calcutta High Court order from April 30 that denied him bail on the grounds of a prima facie case established against him under the PMLA.
Chatterjee was apprehended in connection with alleged irregularities in hiring for teaching and non-teaching positions in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided primary schools.
The politician and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were arrested by the ED during its investigation into the money trail related to these purported illegal recruitments.
The ED reported that they recovered Rs 49.80 crore in cash, along with jewellery and gold bars from flats owned by Mukherjee, as well as property documents and holdings in a joint company. (PTI)
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