Supreme Court Grants Bail to TMC Leader Kuntal Ghosh in Teacher Recruitment Scam, Imposes Unique Condition
The Supreme Court of India granted bail to Trinamool Congress (TMC) youth wing leader Kuntal Ghosh in connection with the primary teacher recruitment scam, but with a distinctive condition – he is prohibited from holding any public office.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan acknowledged the seriousness of the charges against Ghosh, stating that many deserving candidates were allegedly deprived of appointments due to the placement of unqualified individuals in exchange for large bribes. However, the court also noted that investigations into such a large-scale scam, which is being probed by the CBI, would take time, and therefore, Ghosh’s continued detention was not warranted.
In its ruling, the bench emphasized that under criminal jurisprudence, an accused cannot be held in jail indefinitely while investigations are ongoing. The court explained that while the investigation into the scam would take time, Ghosh could be released on bail, provided stringent conditions were imposed.
During the proceedings, Additional Solicitor General Rajkumar B Thakare, representing the CBI, argued that while Ghosh had the right to seek bail, the court should also consider the violation of hundreds of deserving candidates’ right to employment due to his actions. He further suggested that Ghosh’s influence in political circles could lead to tampering with evidence and witness intimidation.
Although the bench refused to bar Ghosh from holding any political position, it stated that he would not be allowed to hold any public office. This ruling has raised eyebrows due to the novel nature of the condition, reflecting the gravity of the case and Ghosh’s political influence.
