Synopsis
A special court in Kolkata has granted bail to Santanu Bandopadhyay, another accused in the multi-crore cash-for-school job case. This marks the sixth individual to receive bail in this ongoing investigation, with conditions imposed on his movements during the bail period.Key Takeaways
- Bail granted to Santanu Bandopadhyay.
- Sixth accused to receive bail in the school job case.
- Conditions include restricted movements and reporting to authorities.
- Involvement linked to audio evidence.
- Previously employed by WBSEDCL and suspended post-arrest.
Kolkata, March 20 (NationPress) A special court in Kolkata has granted bail to Santanu Bandopadhyay, another individual implicated in the multi-crore cash-for-school job scandal in West Bengal.
Bandopadhyay, an expelled leader from the Trinamool Congress in the Hooghly district, becomes the sixth person in this case to receive bail from various courts over time.
The special court approved his bail with a security bond of Rs 1,00,000, while also enforcing strict conditions on his movements during the bail period.
Initially, his movements will be confined to his home district of Hooghly and three neighboring districts. Additionally, he is required to report to the investigating authorities whenever summoned. He must also provide his personal mobile number to the investigating officer and remain accessible at all times.
Like others involved, Bandopadhyay was first detained by officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the school-job case. Subsequently, he was also arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has been conducting a parallel investigation.
The CBI has stated in court multiple times that Bandopadhyay's involvement was confirmed through conversations captured in various audio recordings obtained during the investigation.
The agency has also gathered voice samples from him to compare with the audio clips. The counsel for the CBI consistently opposed his bail requests, asserting that as a notable figure in the ruling party in Hooghly, he could potentially interfere with evidence and influence witnesses if released on bail.
Bandopadhyay was previously employed by the West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (WBSEDCL). Following his arrest in March 2023 by ED officials, WBSEDCL suspended him, adhering to the regulation that mandates suspension for any government employee detained (police or judicial) for 48 hours or longer.
