Former state education minister Partha Chatterjee, who was produced in court on Monday by the CBI in connection with alleged irregularities in the recruitment of Group C staff in government schools, appeared before the judge with no rings on his fingers.
Last week, the former minister, who is in judicial custody, was told by the court during his virtual production that wearing any form of jewellery inside the jail was a violation of the jail’s code of conduct.
Lawyers representing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had submitted in the court that Chatterjee could wear rings in custody because of his clout in the jail.
Chatterjee said he was not aware of the rule.
On Monday, when he appeared in the Special (CBI) court-I, his rings were gone.
A lawyer representing Chatterjee said outside the court that the former minister had reiterated that none of the ED officers had told him to remove the rings. “He said there is a place of worship on the sixth floor of the ED office. If they can perform religious rituals, why can’t he? He said the ED officers never told him to remove the rings.”
A bail petition was moved for Chatterjee. A CBI lawyer said: “We have got statements of two persons mentioned in the case diary, from which we have got a clear picture about the money trail.”
If any “conspirator” is granted bail at this stage, the investigation could hamper, the lawyer said. The judge extended Chatterjee’s remand till May 8.