Highlights
- ED got two-day custody of former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, his aide Arpita Mukherjee
- The ED told a special court in Kolkata that Chatterjee has not been cooperating in the investigation
- Partha, who was education minister when alleged irregularities took place, was arrested on July 23
Partha Chatterjee sent to 2-day ED custody: The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday got two-day custody of former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee, who were arrested in connection with SSC scam case. The ED told a special court in Kolkata that Chatterjee has not been cooperating in the investigation, while Mukherjee is comparatively cooperative.
The ED had sought four days' custody of Chatterjee and three days' custody of Mukherjee, from whose residence it recovered crores of rupees in cash, besides jewellery and other valuables.
Special PMLA judge Jibon Kumar Sadhu reserved the order after hearing all parties in the case.
The former minister's lawyer prayed for his bail, while Mukherjee's counsellor submitted that there was no requirement for any further ED custody of his client.
Appearing for ED, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju submitted that several companies and properties in the joint holding of Chatterjee and Mukherjee were unearthed, and they need to be questioned on these.
Partha Chatterjee sacked
Partha Chatterjee, who was the education minister when the alleged irregularities took place, was arrested on July 23. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday relieved Partha Chatterjee, who has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the school jobs scam case, of his duties as a minister in charge of several heavyweight portfolios including commerce and industry.
Also Read | West Bengal SSC scam: 'Money seized by ED does not belong to me,' says Partha Chatterjee