Former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee has been granted conditional bail by the Calcutta High Court in the high-profile cash-for-jobs recruitment scam involving government-aided primary schools. Chatterjee had been in custody since July 2022 after agencies uncovered large amounts of cash tied to his aide and alleged irregularities in teacher appointments. However, he cannot walk out immediately. The court has placed several conditions on his release: he must surrender his passport, deposit his phone, stay within the court’s jurisdiction, and refrain from holding public office until the trial concludes. Also, per Supreme Court direction, the trial court must record testimony of the remaining witnesses before final release. Many see this as a significant moment in a case that has drawn public and political attention, especially given the scale of alleged corruption and the number of jobs affected. At the same time, the constraints placed on Chatterjee’s bail reflect the judiciary’s attempt to balance the rights of the accused with ensuring fair trial and preventing interference. #ParthaChatterjee #BailGranted #CashForJobsScam #WestBengal #TeacherRecruitment #LegalNews #CorruptionCase #ConditionalBail #CBI #JudicialProcess
Kolkata was hit by what’s being called its worst cloudburst in nearly 40 years. A massive downpour in the early hours caused flash floods, knocked out power, and damaged many Durga Puja pandals that were being prepared. At least 11 people died, there were many injuries, and a few went missing. Transport was in chaos; trains, metros, and flights were disrupted. Schools and universities had to close. With Durga Puja just around the corner, this much rain is especially disruptive. Besides the human cost, many households are dealing with waterlogging, damaged properties, and logistics nightmares. Local authorities are scrambling to restore power, clear roads, and pump out water. Town planning, drainage infrastructure, and climate resilience are being questioned again—how will cities like Kolkata cope in future when rain intensity is so unpredictable? Hashtags: #KolkataFlood #Cloudburst #DurgaPuja #WeatherDisaster #Infrastructure #FlashFlood #CityLife #ClimateResilience #EmergencyResponse #WestBengal
