[Cash For Jobs Scam] Calcutta High Court Raps CBI For Wrongly Seeking Sanction To Prosecute Fmr State Officials From Chief Secy Instead Of Governor

The Calcutta High Court has pulled up the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for creating a 'fiasco' by wrongfully applying to the Chief Secretary for sanction to prosecute former ministers and public servants, instead of the Governor who was the correct sanctioning authority, in the cash for jobs scam. 

A division bench of Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Gaurang Kanth expressed bewilderment over the fact that the CBI had sought sanction from the chief secretary rather than the Governor who was the correct authority, thereby creating a 'fiasco' and leading to the Court expressing dissatisfaction with the stance of the chief secretary in not granting sanction on multiple occasions.

The bench has accordingly called for a report to be filed by the CBI on whether the appropriate sanctioning authority had been approached and said that the issue needed to be sorted out at the earliest.

It was submitted on behalf of the CBI that the Chief secretary's sanction was only sought for the prosecution of school department officials, while the court clarified that in the case of former State Education Board President Kalyanmoy Ganguly and other former ministers would have to be sought from the governor itself.

Accordingly, it has posted the matter for hearing on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024.

Case: Kuntal Ghosh v CBI & connected matters

Case No: CRM (DB) 172 of 2024 & connected matters