[Cash-for-Job Scam] SC Issues Notice on Partha Chatterjee’s Bail Plea in CBI Case

The Supreme Court of India on Friday issued a notice in a plea moved by former West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Partha Chatterjee, seeking bail in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case linked to the cash-for-job scam.

A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh issued notice and listed the matter on 20, March, 2025.

Notably, the instant case pertains to allegations against Chatterjee that he was involved in widespread irregularities in connection with the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment scam. It is the CBI's case that the former West Bengal minister took bribes from applicants under the pretext of providing them with jobs.

Background

In November 2021, the Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to investigate the irregularities in the WBSSC recruitment scam.

Following this, both the CBI and ED initiated their investigation into the matter.

In July 2022, the ED had arrested Chatterjee from his residence in Kolkata in connection with the probe into his alleged role in the teachers’ recruitment scam while he was serving as the Education Minister of the State. He had then moved for bail. However, the bail plea was rejected by the trial court handling the PMLA cases on the grounds of the gravity of the offence.

Seeking relief, Chatterjee challenged the decision before Calcutta High Court wherein a division bench of the court delivered a split verdict. Subsequently, the matter was referred to a single judge who denied him bail.

Aggrieved by Calcutta High Court's order, Partha Chatterjee approached the Top court.

In December, the Top court granted him bail in the ED case. It had also issued directions to expedite the trial against Partha Chatterjee while setting February 1, 2025, as the deadline for his release in the money laundering case related to the cash-for-jobs scam.

On 27 November, the Enforcement Directorate told the Supreme Court that 'undeserving candidates were appointed for money' during the hearing of the bail plea of former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee in a money laundering case.

The court had observed that "The allegation is that the petitioner was the Education Minister in the government of West Bengal, and there were allegations of large-scale scams in the recruitment of assistant primary teachers for extreme considerations. The allegation is that the petitioner and his associates Arpita Mukherjee and Manik Bhattacharya, were actively involved."

During proceedings, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED, told the court that deserving candidates were deprived of their jobs, and undeserving candidates of fifty to sixty thousand were appointed for money.

"First search was conducted at Arpita's place, where, lordship, a huge amount of cash and jewellery worth almost Rs 22 crore were seized. The second search resulted in the seizure of a huge amount from Ananta Textile Private Limited, with cash amounting to Rs 27.93 crore. Arpita Banerjee claims it belongs to Partha Chatterjee," ED added.

However, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Chatterjee, opposed the said contentions.

Case Title: Partha Chatterjee Vs CBI