Cal HC orders transfer of CBI court judge, WB law minister seeks 2 more days

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay expressed dismay over the CBI judge sending several accused who were arrested in the jobs-for-cash scam to jail custody when the federal agency had sought their remand.

Kolkata:Calcutta High Court on Wednesday ordered the transfer of special CBI court judge Arpan Chattopadhayay, in whose court the teacher recruitment scam case is being heard, by October 4, 2023.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay expressed dismay over the CBI judge sending several accused who were arrested in the jobs-for-cash scam to jail custody when the federal agency had sought their remand. He said although the special CBI court judge was supposed to have been transferred by now it has not happened and summoned West Bengal Law Minister Malay Ghatak to appear before him to ascertain the reason behind it as the file was lying with his department.

Ghatak told the court that he was indisposed and was in hospital and sought two more days till October 6, 2023 to execute its order. CBI DIG Ashwin Shenvi, who is heading the CBI special investigation team (SIT) probing the recruitment scam, appeared in the court and said that the state police is interfering in the probe. After hearing him, the judge directed the police to desist from interfering and not to exert any pressure on the SIT probe.