Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, Kolkata, Nov 25, 2024: Arpita Mukherjee, a close associate of former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, was granted bail on Monday by a special court of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Mukherjee, who had been in judicial remand since her arrest in July 2022, was granted bail on a bond of Rs 5 lakh, with conditions that she submit her passport and refrain from leaving Kolkata without court permission. This ruling has sparked considerable discussion, given the high-profile nature of the case involving corruption in the state’s education recruitment process.
Arpita Mukherjee’s arrest in July 2022 came as part of the ED’s investigation into the school jobs scam, in which both Mukherjee and Partha Chatterjee were accused of involvement in illegal appointments to government-sponsored and aided schools in West Bengal. The ED claims to have recovered a substantial amount of cash—Rs 49.80 crore—along with gold, jewelry, and property documents linked to Mukherjee. The investigation also revealed documents showing joint holdings in a company, which the ED alleges were part of the illegal money trail.
While Mukherjee’s bail was granted, it came with significant restrictions. She is required to present a bond of Rs 5 lakh with local sureties, and her movements are confined to Kolkata unless granted leave by the court. Additionally, she must appear before the court daily during hearings related to the school jobs scam case.
The trial of the accused has yet to begin, as argued by Mukherjee’s lawyers during the bail hearing. Despite this, the court found sufficient grounds to grant her bail, which has sparked mixed reactions in the public and political circles. Mukherjee, who is closely linked to Chatterjee, has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The case has been marred by a complex web of allegations, with Mukherjee claiming that she had no knowledge of the illegal activities and was merely a victim of circumstances. Her defense argued that the money and properties found in her possession did not prove her direct involvement in the corruption, as she had never been the primary owner of the assets.
The timing of the bail also coincides with a personal tragedy. On Wednesday, Mukherjee’s mother, Minatidevi, a close friend of Partha Chatterjee, passed away while she was in custody. On Thursday, Mukherjee was granted a two-day parole by the Calcutta High Court to attend the funeral, and she was allowed to return home on the same day. She expressed her grief publicly, stating that if she had been informed earlier about her mother’s illness, she could have arranged for better medical care.
Meanwhile, Partha Chatterjee, who was also arrested on July 23, 2022, remains in custody, and his bail has not yet been granted. In the past, Chatterjee’s legal team has distanced him from Mukherjee, with his lawyer arguing that he had no knowledge of the illegal financial dealings that led to the charges against both of them.
The ongoing case has drawn significant public attention, with many questioning the role of high-ranking officials in the alleged corruption. As the legal proceedings unfold, all eyes will remain on the court’s decisions and whether more individuals in the state’s political establishment will face charges.