Former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee was released on bail on Tuesday afternoon after spending more than three years and three and a half months in custody in connection with the SSC teacher recruitment scam. His release followed the completion of witness testimonies as ordered by the Supreme Court, clearing the final hurdle to his bail.
Chatterjee, who had been admitted to a private hospital on EM Bypass for several days, was discharged and taken home amid emotional scenes. The former minister, seated in a wheelchair, was seen folding his hands toward supporters as tears welled up in his eyes.
The Supreme Court had earlier directed that Chatterjee could be considered for bail once the charge sheet and testimonies of eight key witnesses were completed. The eighth testimony, by an official of the School Service Commission (SSC), was recorded on Monday, after which a special Central Bureau of Investigation court issued his release order.
Following the court’s directive, Chatterjee furnished a security deposit of ₹90,000 as a condition for bail. He was officially released on Tuesday, with the order reaching the hospital earlier in the day.
On July 22, 2022, Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate. The central agency had conducted extensive searches at his Naktala residence in South Kolkata and the flat of Arpita Chatterjee, a close associate, from which large amounts of cash and gold jewellery were seized. The arrest and recovery of cash and jewelry led to Chatterjee’s suspension from the Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Despite several bail pleas being rejected by lower courts, Chatterjee finally approached the Supreme Court, which allowed conditional bail after due legal procedures were completed.
Five days after Chatterjee’s arrest in 2022, TMC’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had announced his suspension from the party, stating that reinstatement would depend on whether he could prove his innocence.
His release has sparked mixed reactions in political and public circles. In Behala Paschim, Chatterjee’s assembly constituency, jubilant supporters put up posters and banners welcoming him home. Many gathered outside the hospital, chanting “Jai Bangla” as he was wheeled out.
A local party worker expressed joy, saying, “Today is a very happy day. Our MLA has finally come home. The BJP tried to keep him in jail through conspiracies, but truth and development cannot be stopped.”
Anger among unemployed teachers
In sharp contrast, unemployed and deprived job seekers expressed anger and disappointment over Chatterjee’s release. Chinmoy Mondal, an unemployed teacher, said, “We are watching those responsible for our lost jobs walk free, while we continue to suffer. This news is deeply disappointing.”
Similarly, Arnab Ghosh, a 2014 TET-qualified candidate, remarked, “Corruption has destroyed merit in this state. Justice delayed has become justice denied. The old players of corruption will now return, and schools will again be filled with unqualified teachers.”
Another job aspirant, Arunima Pal, echoed the frustration: “Those who went to jail for corruption are now returning home, while we, the qualified ones, are still without jobs. We are punished for their crimes.”
While Chatterjee’s release marks a turning point in the long-running investigation, it also raises new political questions — particularly whether the TMC will lift his suspension or maintain its distance.
As one section of the party celebrates the return of its long-time leader, another section — along with the affected job seekers — continues to question the integrity of the education system and the pace of justice.
For now, Chatterjee is back home after more than three years in custody and 202 days of hospital treatment, his eyes heavy with relief — and his future, politically and legally, uncertain.
Also read: Partha Chatterjee gets bail in teachers recruitment scam
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