None can harm Trinamool, says jailed minister on way to court

MP | 13 Dec 2022 | KOLKATA: A special CBI court on Monday extended the judicial remand of former minister Partha Chatterjee till December 22 in a case related to the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in state government-aided and sponsored schools. 

Chatterjee prayed for bail in the case while the CBI sought an extension of his judicial custody. The special CBI court judge, after hearing arguments of both sides, initially reserved the order on the prayers. 

Later, the court rejected the former minister's bail prayers and extended his judicial custody till December 22. Chatterjee, first arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on July 23 following recovery of a huge amount of cash, jewellery and property deeds from his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee's flats, was taken into custody by the CBI on September 16 on the basis of a court order. 

Chatterjee, who was suspended by the Trinamool Congress following his arrest, was produced before the special CBI court by the agency on Monday. Praying for his bail, Chatterjee's lawyers submitted that he had not given any instruction to a committee which had been set up in 2019 to supervise, monitor and guide the West Bengal School Service Commission (SSC) in connection with pending recruitments as alleged. 

The recruitments were made on the recommendation of the SSC. He was relieved of his ministerial duties by the Mamata Banerjee government following his arrest by the ED. He held several portfolios including Parliamentary Affairs, Industry and Commerce when he was arrested. 

The Trinamool Congress also removed him from all posts he held in the party, including that of its secretary general. 

Meanwhile, Chatterjee, who is in jail, claimed on Monday that none can do any harm to the Mamata Banerjee-led party. As Chatterjee got off a vehicle for his court hearing, he was asked by reporters to comment on Leader of Opposition in Bengal Suvendu Adhikari's assertion that the days of the TMC are numbered and "major developments involving its leaders are on the cards in December". The suspended leader was quick to reply that "none can do any harm to the TMC; none can damage TMC's prospects". https://www.millenniumpost.in/kolkata/none-can-harm-trinamool-says-jailed-minister-on-way-to-court-502054