The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday in connection with the teacher recruitment scam. His arrest comes eight months after the agency filed multiple chargesheets, naming him as a prime accused in the bribe-for-job scandal.
Hours before his arrest, the Supreme Court sought a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding Chatterjee’s bail plea. Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan instructed the ED to submit their reply, signaling further legal challenges for the ex-minister.
In July 2022, the ED had arrested Chatterjee after discovering over ₹21 crore in cash from the residence of one of his associates. The massive cash seizure has been a crucial part of the investigation into the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) teacher recruitment scam.
As the investigation deepened, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) suspended Partha Chatterjee from the party and removed him from all posts. This development follows the Calcutta High Court’s directive to the CBI to investigate alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers and staff in Bengal schools.
