The Supreme Court has told former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee that, “On the face of it, you look like a corrupt person.” This comes after a large amount of money, over crores of rupees, was found in his home during an investigation into a scam related to job recruitments in West Bengal.
While Chatterjee is asking for bail, the court is worried about what message it would send if he is released. They said, “What should we tell society? That corrupt people can get bail easily?” Chatterjee’s lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, pointed out that many other people accused in the same case have gotten bail, but the judges reminded him, “You were a minister. You can’t compare yourself to them.”
The lawyer for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), S.V. Raju, said that even if Chatterjee is granted bail, he won’t be released because he has other cases to answer. Rohatgi argued that he has already been held for over two and a half years.
The judges asked how long the ED needs to finish their investigation. They want to make sure releasing Chatterjee doesn’t interfere with the investigation. Rohatgi also mentioned that the cash was not found directly from Chatterjee but from a company related to him.
The court noted that Chatterjee controlled this company and that the investigation began only after a judge requested it. They are worried about the serious charges against Chatterjee, saying that the police found a massive sum of Rs 28 crore.
Chatterjee’s lawyer requested the court consider his age and health, explaining that he is in his seventies and has collapsed during hearings. The judges are considering setting special conditions for his release if they decide to grant bail.
The court will announce its decision after hearing from both sides about these issues. Meanwhile, the courts are concerned about how many people accused of money laundering are found guilty. Chatterjee was arrested because of claims of wrongdoing in hiring teachers in West Bengal schools. He was removed from his role and party positions after his arrest.
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