Bengal teacher recruitment scandal: SC seeks CBI's response on ex-WBSSC chairman's bail plea

The Supreme Court has sought the Central Bureau of Investigation’s views on a bail plea filed by former West Bengal School Service Commission chairman Subiresh Bhattacharya, the prime accused in a teacher recruitment scandal.

Appearing on behalf of Bhattacharya, senior advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey contended that he has been in custody for nearly two and a half years and the trial is yet to commence. Also, having 183 witnesses in the case, there is no possibility of the trial concluding in the near future, he said.

As per available information, the charge sheet filed by the CBI against Bhattacharya is awaiting cognisance by a court for want of prosecution sanction. Taking stock of the contentions, a division bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Sanjay Karol on Tuesday issued a notice to the CBI asking it to respond to Bhattacharya’s plea.


The CBI is probing the recruitment scandal based on an order of the Calcutta High Court, which is monitoring the probe. The agency arrested Bhattacharya in September 2022.

Bhattacharya was the chairman of the School Service Commission between 2014 and 2018. Partha Chatterjee, who was the state education minister when the alleged scandal took place, is a co-accused in the case.

The CBI has alleged that Bhattacharya played a key role in manipulating the marks of job applicants. Bhattacharya has denied the allegations against him.