SC gives bail to former West Bengal Minister in cash-for-jobs scam

The Supreme Court on Monday (August 18, 2025) granted bail to former West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee in a cash-for-jobs scam case, noting his continued detention for three years without trial is a travesty of justice.

A Bench headed by Justice M.M. Sundresh directed the framing of charges in the case on learning that sanction has been granted for his prosecution.

The Bench ordered the former Minister to be released only after the trial court completed the examination of material witnesses in the case within two months.

The apex court also granted bail to Subires Bhattacharya and Shantiprasad Sinha, both of whom had held senior positions in the State’s education bodies, in the case.

Mr. Chatterjee was the Education Minister of West Bengal. The top court had granted him bail in a connected money laundering case in December last year. However, Mr. Chatterjee was already in CBI custody at the time. The CBI was investigating the predicate offences against him, including under the Prevention of Corruption Act.