SSC scam: Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee were detained for 14 days judicial custody

Since their detention on July 23, Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee have been held by the ED on remand as part of the agency’s investigation into the alleged money trail associated with the hiring of unlawful teaching and non-teaching employees in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools.

In connection with the ED investigation into the money trail in the School Service Commission appointments scandal, a special PMLA court in Kolkata on Friday sentenced former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee to a 14-day judicial confinement until August 18. The ED has asked for both to be placed on judicial hold for 14 days.

After hearing from all the parties involved in the case, Jibon Kumar Sadhu, the special court judge for the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had reserved his decision. Since their detention on July 23, Chatterjee and Mukherjee have been held in ED custody for further investigation into the alleged money trail associated with the hiring of unlawful teaching and non-teaching staff at West Bengal government-sponsored and aided institutions.

Advertisement

Additionally, the ED attorney had asked the court for permission to question the two accused in the prison facility in light of recent developments in the case. His attorney pleaded for Chatterjee’s release on bond, arguing that he was now a regular person and would not flee.

“He is not an influential person anymore and is also willing to consider giving up his MLAship,” Chatterjee’s lawyer said.

Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister, has divested Chatterjee of his ministerial responsibilities, and the Trinamool Congress has demoted him from every position he previously had inside the organisation. The ED asserts that Chatterjee’s admission to the state-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata resulted in at least two of the 15 days he was held in its custody being lost.

According to the medical professionals at AIIMS Bhubaneswar, who examined Chatterjee after the Calcutta High Court ordered him there for a checkup, Chatterjee did not need any immediate medical attention.

The ED asserts that it has collected from Mukherjee’s apartments 49.8 crore rupees in cash, a sizable quantity of jewellery, and gold bars, in addition to records of the properties and the joint firm operated by the two accused.