The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted conditional bail to Kuntal Ghosh, a former youth leader of the Trinamool Congress and a central figure in the West Bengal school jobs scam. However, Ghosh’s release from custody will be delayed due to pending charges in a related CBI case. Justice Suvra Ghosh ruled that Ghosh could be released on bail under strict conditions, including a Rs 10 lakh bond, after his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate on January 21, 2023.
Despite this decision, Ghosh will remain incarcerated as he faces additional accusations by the CBI concerning his involvement in corrupt recruitment practices. As part of his bail conditions, Ghosh is required to surrender his passport and maintain regular appearances before the trial court. He must also ensure that his contact information is up-to-date and refrain from any actions that could tamper with evidence or intimidate witnesses. Any breach of these terms could lead to the revocation of his bail.
Kuntal Ghosh has been implicated in a substantial corruption scandal involving the illicit appointment of school staff in West Bengal. According to investigations, he allegedly manipulated the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) results in 2014, securing jobs for unqualified candidates in exchange for money. These allegations extend to several high-profile associates, including former TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya, who has also faced legal scrutiny but was released on bail by the same court in September due to a lack of prior criminal activity.
This case has unveiled a complex web of corruption within the West Bengal education system, affecting numerous school job aspirants and tainting the administrative integrity of the recruitment process. While other accused like Tapas Mondal have been granted bail and released, Ghosh’s situation highlights the ongoing judicial efforts to address each aspect of this multifaceted scandal comprehensively.
