SC junks Trinamool leader's plea challenging arrest

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea filed by Trinamool Congress leader Manik Bhattacharya, challenging his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in a money-laundering case linked to the scandal over the recruitment of primary-school teachers in West Bengal.

A division bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath also turned down Bhattacharya's plea to meet his counsels and told him that this demand should be made before the appropriate court.

The bench had completed the hearing on October 18.


Bhattacharya, a former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, was arrested by the federal agency earlier this month. His counsel argued that not a penny was recovered from Bhattacharya, but it was still argued that huge amounts were recovered.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the ED, argued that high-level officials of the state were involved in the matter.