CBI takes approval from Governor to prosecute Partha Chatterjee

Kolkata (IANS). The CBI has appointed West Bengal Governor C.V. Statutory approval has been taken from Anand Bose. Explaining this statutory clearance, a legal associate of the central agency said that since Partha Chatterjee is an elected legislator and was also a member of the state cabinet when he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in July last year. Statutory sanction was required from the Speaker of the State Assembly or directly from the Governor to prosecute them.

Therefore, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken statutory approval from the Governor.

Although the trial against Chatterjee is already underway in a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata and a charge sheet has been issued against him, statutory approval has been sought from the Governor to proceed and finalize the trial process. Approval was required.

The ED had arrested Chatterjee from his residence on July 23, 2022, after authorities recovered huge cash and gold from the twin residences of his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. The properties of both have been attached by the officials of the central agency.

In fact, West Bengal Speaker Biman had earlier accused the central agencies of not seeking his permission to initiate legal proceedings against the minister and the member of the House. Therefore, to eliminate complications in this regard, the CBI has now taken statutory approval directly from the Governor.

With the approval, it is expected that the central agencies can soon issue the final charge sheet against Chatterjee.