The Supreme Court on Thursday (May 8) directed the West Bengal government to take a decision within two weeks regarding sanctioning the prosecution of co-accused in the State’s high-profile school recruitment scam case, in which former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee is a key accused.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh passed the order while adjourning Chatterjee’s bail plea in the CBI case filed under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act). The apex court said his plea will now be heard on July 17, tagged with similar petitions filed by other accused in the case.
“Meanwhile, in order to facilitate trial, the State of West Bengal is directed to take a decision regarding granting sanction in the cases of the petitioner’s co-accused within 2 weeks,” the bench ordered.
During the hearing, Chatterjee’s counsel submitted that while sanction to prosecute Chatterjee had already been granted, the trial had stalled due to pending sanctions for other accused. He argued that separating the trial for one accused from others was not feasible.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the CBI, supported the tagging of bail pleas and said the state’s delay in granting sanctions was holding up proceedings.
In a report by Live Law, it was noted that the court showed concern over the Calcutta High Court’s split verdict earlier on the bail pleas of Chatterjee and others. Justice Kant remarked, “We have reached a stage where in bail matters there are dissenting opinions… What is happening?”
ASG Raju further alleged during the hearing that Chatterjee was “neck-deep in corruption” and was “faking his health condition” to seek relief. Chatterjee’s lawyers claimed he was bedridden.
In December 2024, the Supreme Court had granted him bail in the connected money laundering case filed under the PMLA, effective February 1, 2025. However, his custody continues in the CBI’s corruption case.
The case stems from a large-scale recruitment scam under the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, in which multiple senior officials and former Minister Partha Chatterjee were arrested in 2022. They are accused of soliciting bribes in exchange for appointments in the State’s education department.
The accused moved the Calcutta High Court for bail, but in November 2024, a division bench gave a split verdict. One judge granted bail to all, while the other denied it to Chatterjee and four others. A single judge later denied bail to them.
