Former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee granted bail in corruption case over alleged teacher hiring scam.

The Calcutta High Court has granted bail to former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a corruption case tied to alleged irregularities in primary school teacher recruitment, with Justice Suvra Ghosh imposing conditions including surrendering his passport, remaining within the trial court’s jurisdiction, and refraining from holding public office. Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress MLA, faces allegations of orchestrating a scheme that led to the appointment of unqualified candidates, stemming from a 2022 high court order prompting a CBI investigation after unsuccessful candidates challenged the recruitment process. The CBI filed an FIR the following day, and the Enforcement Directorate launched a separate probe, both targeting multiple education department officials. Although bail was granted, his release depends on the trial court completing charge framing and witness statements, a process expected to take about a month. He remains restricted from leaving his designated area, cannot contact witnesses, and cannot enter his constituency except for official duties. The case involves allegations of a cash-for-jobs scam spanning several years, with thousands of appointments later canceled.