Partha Chatterjee Labeled as 'Kingmaker' in Bengal School Employment Scandal: CBI
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Kolkata, Dec 10 (NationPress) The representative of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated on Tuesday that former West Bengal education minister and Trinamool Congress secretary general Partha Chatterjee is the "kingmaker" in the high-stakes cash-for-school job scandal.
This remark was made during the proceedings concerning Chatterjee's bail request at the new bench led by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty.
Justice Chakraborty's bench took up the case following a split decision from a Calcutta High Court division bench, where Justice Arijit Bandopadhyay supported bail for Chatterjee and eight others, while Justice Apurba Sinha Ray denied bail for Chatterjee and four others.
On the previous day, Chatterjee's attorney questioned the rationale behind granting bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal while denying it to his client, arguing, "If Kejriwal, who wields more influence, can be released on bail, why shouldn't my client?" He emphasized that Chatterjee is currently not affiliated with any political party and thus deserves bail.
In response, the CBI attorney reiterated his stance, labeling Chatterjee as the "kingmaker" in the purported scam and opposing the bail request.
The next session regarding this case at Justice Chakraborty’s bench is set for December 17.
On December 4, a Supreme Court division bench led by Justice Surya Kant reserved its judgement on Chatterjee's bail plea.
Chatterjee's lawyer, Mukul Rohtagi, argued that the former education minister has been in custody for more than two years and there is little chance of the trial concluding soon, noting that other co-defendants have already secured bail in relation to the money laundering allegations.
However, the bench led by Justice Kant remarked that "one cannot claim parity here since not everyone held the ministerial position."
