Calcutta HC upholds bail of minister Chandranath Sinha in SSC case

Calcutta High Court has upheld the bail of West Bengal Minister Chandranath Sinha, dismissing a plea from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that sought to cancel it. The ED had requested to take Sinha into custody for questioning in connection with a primary recruitment corruption case, but the court denied the application, allowing the minister to remain on bail.

While the court rejected the ED’s plea, it did not grant a complete reprieve to the minister. Justice Biswajit Basu directed Chandranath Sinha to appear at the ED office for two additional days—specifically, Thursday and Friday—for further interrogation. The court underscored that the minister must cooperate fully with the central agency's investigation, signaling that while he is not in custody, the legal process against him is far from over.

This case has drawn considerable attention as Chandranath Sinha is the first minister after the former education minister, Partha Chatterjee, against whom the ED has filed a charge sheet. Sinha, who holds the portfolios of Prisons and Small and Cottage Industries, has maintained his innocence, stating his faith in the judiciary and asserting that he has not knowingly engaged in any wrongdoing.

The legal battle began after the ED conducted a raid on Sinha's home, where they reportedly seized 41 lakh rupees in cash. The minister had initially avoided two summons from the ED before he eventually surrendered in court on September 6. At that time, he was granted bail on a personal bond of 10,000 rupees. The court has also imposed a condition that restricts his travel, preventing him from leaving his assembly constituency of Bolpur and Kolkata until the hearing is concluded.