Mamata Banerjee Breaks Silence on Partha Chatterjee's Arrest: 10 Developments

Chatterjee was earlier found fit by AIIMS Bhubaneshwar and does not need hospitalisation.

West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee was found fit by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Bhubaneshwar on Monday, 25 July, and does not need hospitalisation, officials said.

(Photo: Image Altered by The Quint)

Amid turmoil in West Bengal politics over the SSC recruitment scam, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, 25 July, said that she does not support any corruption.

She emphasised on the need for a time-bound investigation in the SSC case and said that those guilty will be duly punished. This comes after minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday in connection with the case.

Banerjee distanced herself from the accused TMC leader, saying, “Just because I share the stage with someone at a pujo event, that doesn't mean I am associated with that person."

Here are they key developments in the case from Monday:

• Rejecting a bail prayer of the minister, a special ED court on Monday granted ED custody of the minister and also of his aide Arpita Mukherjee till 3 August

• A list of 48 candidates with roll numbers for posts of primary teacher; documents related to the appointment of Group D staff, including admit cards for recruitment tests were recovered from Chatterjee's house, the ED told the court

• Chatterjee, who was earlier at the SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, claiming to be unwell, was declared fit by AIIMS Bhubaneswar Director Dr Ashutosh Biswas.

• The ED said that it submitted the medical report before the court which showed that Chatterjee is stable, and can be taken into custody

• Partha Chatterjee's advocate informed the court that there were no directions from the high court to arrest Chatterjee.

• Chatterjee had reportedly made three phone calls to CM Mamata Banerjee following his arrest but all calls went unanswered.

• "I will not get into the details of the case as it is sub judice. We have full faith in the judiciary. We want a time-bound probe into the matter. If someone is found guilty, the person should be punished accordingly, be it life imprisonment. I won't mind. But, I condemn the malicious campaign against me," Banerjee said.

• She said, “If proven to be true, then put the person behind bars even if it’s for life. People make mistakes. I know there are aspirants who are without a job, and I have formed a separate committee to solve that problem.”

• Meanwhile, the ED said that following preliminary investigations, Arpita Mukherjee, a “close associate” of Chatterjee, was running at least 12 shell companies for “financial manoeuvres.”

Chaterjee was arrested by the ED in connection with the alleged irregularities in the recruitment of teachers, clerks, and staff in state-run schools. The ED arrest came after Rs 21 crore in cash were recovered from his ‘close aide’ Arpita Mukherjee’s residence.