Minister Chandranath Sinha surrenders in ED special court over SSC primary teacher's recruitment scam

In a significant development in West Bengal’s ongoing primary teacher recruitment scam, State Minister for Correctional Adfministration Services and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, Chandranath Sinha, surrendered before a special Enforcement Directorate (ED) court in Kolkata today. The TMC MLA from Bolpur, arriving at around 10:45 AM, applied for anticipatory bail shortly after his surrender. The court, rejecting the ED’s plea for custody, granted him interim bail on a ₹10,000 personal bond with strict conditions, intensifying the spotlight on one of Bengal’s most contentious political scandals.

The ED has been investigating Sinha for his alleged role in irregularities tied to the recruitment of primary school teachers, a case that has already implicated high-profile figures like former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee. The agency’s probe gained momentum after raids at Sinha’s Bolpur residence in March 2024 uncovered ₹41 lakh in unaccounted cash and led to the seizure of his mobile phone. The ED claims Sinha accepted bribes from job aspirants, with a chargesheet filed on August 6, 2025, detailing suspicious transactions worth ₹15 crore linked to two of his bank accounts in Bolpur.

The court’s decision to grant bail came with specific directives: Sinha must fully cooperate with the ED’s investigation and is restricted from leaving Kolkata or his Bolpur constituency until the case’s hearings conclude. The judge set the next hearing for September 16, 2025, when further proceedings, including the formal framing of charges, are expected. This ruling follows the ED’s submission of a chargesheet, approved by West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, a necessary step for prosecuting a sitting minister.Sinha’s surrender, though anticipated after a special PMLA court’s order on August 20 to appear by September 12, has sent ripples through Bengal’s political circles. His legal team emphasized his willingness to cooperate, arguing that his early surrender demonstrates compliance.