In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday set conditions for the release of Partha Chatterjee, the former West Bengal minister embroiled in a high-profile money laundering case. The case, stemming from alleged corruption in job recruitments, has led to Chatterjee’s prolonged custody under the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan, outlined that Chatterjee is to be granted conditional bail, scheduled for February 1, 2025. This decision is contingent on the trial court completing the charge framing before the winter recess and ensuring the testimonies of key witnesses in the early weeks of January 2025.
Upon his release, Chatterjee will be barred from holding any public office, although he will be allowed to continue serving as an MLA. The Justices emphasized the necessity of balancing the rights of the accused with those of the victims, noting that indefinite detention without trial undermines justice.
This ruling follows a stern observation from the court during a hearing on December 4, where Chatterjee was described as manifestly corrupt, with the justices referencing the recovery of substantial sums of money from his premises.
Chatterjee’s legal troubles began with his arrest related to alleged irregularities in the hiring of staff in state-sponsored and aided primary schools in West Bengal. His associate, Arpita Mukherjee, was also detained as investigations uncovered nearly Rs 50 crore in cash, along with substantial amounts of jewellery and gold, from properties linked to her.
