- By Anushka Vats
- Fri, 13 Dec 2024 11:38 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Supreme Court on Friday granted conditional future bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in connection with the money laundering case related to cash-for-job scam. He will be released from jail on February 1, 2025, ruled the apex court.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan ruled that Chatterjee shall be released on February 1, 2025 subject to the trial court framing charges before the winter vacation and examination of vulnerable witnesses by the second and third week of January 2025.
The top court also mentioned that Chatterjee can continue to be an MLA, but shall not hold any public office after being released.
The bench said that a suspect cannot be detained indefinitely and, therefore, it has to balance the rights of the accused and the victims.
ALSO READ: RBI Receives Bomb Threat In 'Russian Language', Second Incident Within 15 Days; Probe On
On December 4, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on his bail request stating, "On the face of it you are a corrupt person. Crores of rupees were recovered from your premises."
Earlier in October, the apex court had issued a notice to the ED on the appeal filed by Chatterjee against an April 30 Calcutta High Court order denying him bail on the grounds that a prima facie case was established against him under the PMLA.
What's The Case?
Chatterjee was arrested in link to the suspected irregularities in the hiring of teaching and non-teaching staff for West Bengal government-sponsored and aided primary schools.
The politician and his alleged close aide Arpita Mukherjee were arrested by the ED in connection with its probe into the money trail in the alleged illegal recruitments.
According to the claims made by the ED, Rs 49.80 crore in cash, besides jewellery, and gold bars from flats owned by Mukherjee, documents of properties and a company in joint holdings were recovered.