Supreme Court Reserves Order on TMC Leader Manik Bhattacharya's Plea Challenging ED Arrest In Money Laundering Case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved orders in the plea filed by Manik Bhattacharya, former chairman of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education and Trinamool Congress leader, assailing his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in money laundering matter regarding the teacher's appointment scam.

The bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram Nath heard the matter. It was argued by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Manik that the Court had granted him protection from arrest in the CBI matter and that would also extend upon the ED. "The Enforcement Directorate is piggy-riding upon the Central Bureau of Investigation," Rohatgi said. 

Rohatgi also pointed out that the he has appeared before the Directorate on every occasion but still it has been stated by the Directorate that he has not been cooperating with the investigation. He submitted that, "At the end of the day we are before the highest court of the country, I have appeared here on all dates and I have appeared before them as well…..Remand is illegal, I am protected by the courts order I should be released forthwith."

Rohatgi also pointed out that there has been an attempt to cloud the judgment by saying that large sums of money are being recovered from Manik while money had been recovered from Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee. "Not a penny is recovered from me. What kind of statement is this that you are saying large sums of money has been recovered", Rohatgi emphasised on the fact that no money had been recovered from Manik Bhattacharya. He submitted that the remand application filed in Manik Bhattacharya's matter has been mixed with the details regarding the Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Enforcement Directorate refuted the arguments forwarded by Rohatgi stating that, "It is an independent investigation by an independent agency." He took the court through the remand application and stated before the court, "Look at the host of material and the finding of the court and now he wants to be released. We are dealing with high level officials here."

The Court after hearing the submissions of the parties reserved its orders.

Manik Bhattacharya was arrested on October 10, 2022 in the matter regarding the money laundering matter in the teacher's appointment scam. Partha Chatterjee, then then Education Minister of West Bengal and Arpita Mukherjee were arrested in July of 2022

Manik Bhattacharya vs Enforcement Directorate|SLP (Crl) No 9769/2022

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