ED tightens grip on Minister Chandranath Sinha: Hearing postpones amid fresh land evidence

In a high-stakes courtroom drama unfolding at Kolkata's Bankshal Court, West Bengal's Correctional Services Minister Chandranath Sinha finds himself at the center of escalating scrutiny in a money laundering probe tied to the infamous school recruitment scam. The special ED court heard arguments in the case where the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is pushing for Sinha's custody, alleging his involvement in illegal financial dealings worth over Rs 12.72 crore. The hearing took an unexpected turn when ED presented additional evidence linking Sinha to suspicious land transactions in Birbhum district, prompting the court to postpone proceedings and grant more time to the minister's legal team. Currently out on interim bail after surrendering earlier this month,

Sinha faces accusations not just for himself but also involving his wife and son in assets disproportionate to their known income. This development intensifies the pressure on the Trinamool Congress leader, whose political career hangs in the balance amid claims of bribery in teacher appointments, raising questions about accountability in one of Bengal's most controversial corruption sagas.The case stems from the broader cash-for-jobs scandal that rocked West Bengal's education sector, where irregularities in primary school recruitments allegedly funneled crores through illicit channels.

ED's charge sheet, filed in August 2025, names Sinha explicitly, detailing how he, along with family members, benefited from unaccounted funds. During the latest hearing, ED lawyers submitted fresh documents highlighting land deals in Birbhum—Sinha's home turf and his Bolpur assembly constituency—suggesting these were proceeds of the scam. The agency argued that Sinha's inability to explain the money trail during prior questioning warrants custodial interrogation to prevent witness tampering. Sinha's counsel, caught off guard by the new evidence, requested time to review and counter it, leading the judge to defer the bail-custody decision to a future date.Sinha, a two-time MLA from Bolpur and a close associate of TMC heavyweight Anubrata Mondal, surrendered before the PMLA court on September 6, just days before a court-mandated deadline. He was granted interim bail on a Rs 10,000 personal bond, with strict conditions limiting his movements to Kolkata or his constituency. This came after ED raids at his Bolpur residence in March 2024, where officials seized Rs 41 lakh in cash and a mobile phone. The central agency has traced suspicious bank transactions totaling Rs 12.73 crore linked to Sinha's accounts, his wife's, and his son's, all allegedly tied to the recruitment irregularities probed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).The courtroom buzzed with tension as ED pressed for a week's custody, citing Sinha's history of skipping summons—he appeared only after the charge sheet on August 7.

Prosecutors emphasized that the minister's role emerged from a diary seized from middleman Kuntal Ghosh, a suspended Trinamool leader already arrested in the case. Sinha's defense countered that the evidence is circumstantial and politically motivated, but the introduction of Birbhum land specifics—possibly involving undervalued properties or benami holdings—added weight to ED's narrative. The court, balancing the agency's demands with the minister's rights, opted for caution by postponing, scheduling the next hearing tentatively in two weeks.As the news rippled through political circles in Kolkata and Birbhum, reactions poured in from across the spectrum.

Trinamool supporters rallied behind Sinha, decrying the probe as a BJP-orchestrated vendetta ahead of elections, while opposition voices demanded full disclosure. The scam, which led to the arrest of former education minister Partha Chatterjee in 2022, has already tainted the Mamata Banerjee government's image, with Sinha now the second cabinet member facing prosecution. Local leaders in Bolpur, where Sinha has deep roots, expressed concern over the allegations, recalling his contributions to local development amid whispers of favoritism in job allocations.With the hearing deferred, the spotlight remains on whether Sinha will secure regular bail or face arrest, potentially reshaping Bengal's political landscape. ED's ongoing investigation, including summons for further questioning within 15 days, signals no let-up. This case underscores the relentless pursuit of corruption in public recruitment, where lives and livelihoods are at stake. As Sinha navigates this legal maze, the people of West Bengal watch closely, hoping for justice that transcends party lines and restores faith in governance.