ED-Accused Arpita’s Mother Passes Away, Court Grants Five-Day Parole for Funeral Rites

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, November 21, 2024, Kolkata: Arpita Mukherjee, a key figure in the high-profile recruitment corruption case involving former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, has been granted five-day parole by a special court following the tragic news of her mother's death. Arpita, who has been incarcerated since her arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July 2022, was informed of her mother’s passing on Wednesday, causing her to break down in tears. Sources confirm that her mother had been ill for some time prior to her death.

Arpita was arrested after the ED conducted raids on several of her properties, uncovering a massive Rs 21.90 crore in cash and significant amounts of gold and jewelry at her Tollygunge residence. Further investigations revealed an additional Rs 28 crore in cash, along with more valuables, from her Belgharia house, where her mother resided. Since then, Arpita has remained in judicial custody, facing charges related to the multi-crore school recruitment scam.

In light of her mother's death, Arpita applied for parole to attend the funeral and complete the necessary post-funeral rituals. On Thursday, the special court granted her request, marking her first release from jail since her arrest. This brief release comes amidst the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the recruitment scam, which continues to involve Arpita and her former mentor, Partha Chatterjee.

The case, widely referred to as the "cash-for-jobs" scam, has garnered significant attention. In a previous hearing in March 2023, the ED revealed that Arpita Mukherjee and Partha Chatterjee shared a close relationship. It was disclosed in the Calcutta High Court that Chatterjee had even signed an undertaking to assume financial responsibility for a child Arpita wished to adopt, further highlighting the extent of their personal connection. The ED’s counsel presented this information in response to claims by Chatterjee’s defense that the financial assets found at Arpita's properties were not his responsibility and that their relationship was akin to that of an "uncle and niece."

As Arpita deals with her personal loss, the legal battles continue for both her and Partha Chatterjee. On Wednesday, the Calcutta High Court heard a bail petition from Partha Chatterjee in relation to charges filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the recruitment scam. The two-judge Division Bench was split, with Justice Arijit Bandyopadhyay favoring bail, while Justice Apurba Sinha Roy opposed it, citing concerns over possible attempts by the state administration to shield influential figures involved in the case. The matter has now been referred to a new Division Bench under the leadership of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam.

Additionally, on Thursday, the Supreme Court adjourned the hearing of a similar bail petition filed by Chatterjee in connection with the ED’s investigation into the scam.

As Arpita takes a brief respite from her judicial custody to attend to her family’s mourning, the legal proceedings surrounding the recruitment corruption case remain ongoing, with both she and Partha Chatterjee facing serious charges that could have far-reaching consequences.