West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha comes out after being granted interim bail by an Enforcement Directorate (ED) court in a case of alleged irregularities in primary school recruitment, in Kolkata, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI
West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Chandranath Sinha surrendered before a court on Saturday (September 6, 2025) and was granted bail in a case pertaining to the primary school teacher recruitment scam.
The case is being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate. Mr. Sinha, who is the Minister for Correctional Administration, also holds the portfolio of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles. A special ED court granted bail to the Minister on a personal bond of ₹10,000, subject to certain conditions. The Minister cannot travel outside his Assembly constituency of Bolpur and Kolkata for now.
Mr. Sinha is the second Minister to be named in the chargesheet after former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee.
Governor’s nod
The ED had recently filed a chargesheet against Mr. Sinha in the recruitment scam after Governor C V. Ananda Bose gave his consent to prosecute him.
In March 2024, the ED carried out search and seizure operations at the Minister’s Bolpur residence, after his name surfaced in the case involving recruitment of primary teachers. According to the agency, ₹40 lakh in cash was seized from his residence.
The Supreme Court on April 3, 2025, cancelled the appointment of 25,000 teachers and non-teaching staff by the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) in 2016, citing irregularities.
Mr. Chatterjee was arrested by the ED in July 2022 after cash and jewellery worth ₹50 crore was recovered from his aide’s residence.
Speaking to mediapersons, Mr. Sinha said he has faith in law and that he will get justice.
Published – September 06, 2025 10:04 pm IST
