Calcutta HC grants conditional protection to Manas Bhunia in cash-for-job case
Synopsis
A former West Bengal irrigation minister got conditional protection from arrest by the Calcutta High Court — but only after failing to appear for police questioning twice. The case, rooted in a ₹5 lakh alleged payment for a job that vanished within months, is now one of the sharper tests of accountability in West Bengal's ongoing recruitment corruption crisis.
Key Takeaways
The Calcutta High Court granted conditional protection from arrest to former minister Manas Bhunia on 13 July in a cash-for-job scam.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya ordered Bhunia not to leave the Sabang police station area in West Midnapore and to surrender his passport.
A complainant alleges his family paid ₹5 lakh for his wife's job in the irrigation department ; she was dismissed within two months of joining.
Police filed an FIR after Bhunia reportedly skipped the first two summons for questioning.
Bhunia was questioned for about three hours at Sabang police station on 9 July and has denied all allegations.
He lost the 2026 Assembly election from Sabang on a TMC ticket and quit the party on 13 June .
The Calcutta High Court on Monday, 13 July granted conditional protection from arrest to former West Bengal minister Manas Bhunia in a recruitment corruption case, after he approached the court fearing coercive action by police. The order was passed by a single bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya, subject to strict compliance conditions.
Key Conditions of the Protection Order
Bhunia has been barred from leaving the Sabang police station area in West Midnapore district until further orders. He has also been directed to surrender his passport to the local police station and cooperate fully with the ongoing investigation. Failure to comply with any of these conditions could render the protection void, leaving him exposed to arrest.
The Complaint and FIR
The case originates from a complaint filed on 10 June by a resident of Bishnupur Gram Panchayat in the Sabang Assembly area. According to the complainant, his wife was given a job at Temathani Irrigation Bungalow under CISB Services Private Limited through the alleged mediation of Bhunia, who was then serving as the state irrigation minister. The family reportedly paid ₹5 lakh in exchange for the appointment. The woman joined the position and received her salary until March, but was dismissed within two months. Police subsequently registered an FIR against the former minister.
Bhunia's Interrogation and Court Challenge
Police issued multiple summons to Bhunia for questioning, but he reportedly did not appear on the first two occasions. He then challenged the notices before the Calcutta High Court, which ordered him to cooperate with investigators. Following that direction, Bhunia appeared at the Sabang police station on 9 July, where he was questioned for approximately three hours. He made no public statement after leaving the station. According to police sources, the complaint alleges he accepted several lakhs of rupees on the pretext of securing jobs in the irrigation department during his tenure as minister. Bhunia has denied the allegations.
Political Background
Bhunia had contested the 2026 Assembly elections on an All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) ticket from the Sabang constituency but was defeated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate. On 13 June, he announced his resignation from the Trinamool Congress. The case is the latest in a series of recruitment corruption investigations in West Bengal that have drawn sustained judicial scrutiny.
What Happens Next
The matter is expected to return before the Calcutta High Court for further hearing. Investigators will continue their probe, and Bhunia's compliance with the court's conditions will be closely watched. Any violation could result in the protection being revoked and his arrest.
Point of View
But its specificity — a named employer, a named worksite, a traceable salary record — makes it harder to dismiss than broader systemic complaints. With Bhunia now outside the TMC, the political insulation that once made such cases slow to move has weakened, and the court's stringent conditions suggest it is in no mood to allow the probe to stall again.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court grant protection to Manas Bhunia?
The court granted Bhunia conditional protection from arrest after he approached it fearing coercive police action in a recruitment corruption case. Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya imposed conditions including a travel ban within the Sabang area and passport surrender, allowing the probe to continue without immediate arrest.
What is the cash-for-job allegation against Manas Bhunia?
A complainant from Bishnupur Gram Panchayat in Sabang alleges that his family paid ₹5 lakh to secure his wife a job at Temathani Irrigation Bungalow through Bhunia's mediation when he was the state irrigation minister. The wife was dismissed within two months of joining, prompting the complaint and a subsequent FIR.
What conditions did the Calcutta High Court impose on Bhunia?
Bhunia must not leave the Sabang police station area in West Midnapore district, must surrender his passport to the local police station, and must fully cooperate with the investigation. Non-compliance could result in the protection being revoked.
What is Manas Bhunia's political background?
Bhunia is a former West Bengal state minister who held the irrigation portfolio. He contested the 2026 Assembly elections from Sabang on a Trinamool Congress ticket but lost to the BJP candidate. He announced his exit from the TMC on 13 June 2025.
What happens next in the Manas Bhunia recruitment case?
The case is expected to return before the Calcutta High Court for further hearing. Police will continue their investigation, and Bhunia's compliance with the court's conditions will be monitored. Any breach could lead to the protection being withdrawn and his arrest.
