Partha Chatterjee (File)A day after West Bengal Commerce and Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the alleged school job scam, was admitted to government-run SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, the Calcutta High Court on Sunday ordered the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to shift him to AIIMS Bhubaneswar through air-ambulance early Monday morning.
In its order, Justice Bibek Chaudhuri stated, “…our experience as a common man with regard to the role of the doctors attached to the SSKM Super speciality Hospital is not a happy one. In the recent past, more than one high-ranking political leaders belonging to the ruling party were arrested or directed to appear before the Investigating Authority for interrogation, and they successfully avoided interrogation by… taking shelter in the said hospital. When they found that there was no possibility for the Investigating Agency to interrogate the suspects having strong political background…, they were discharged from the hospital. They avoided even appearing before the Court on the strength of the medical report issued by the said hospital authority.”
“Under such background and considering the fact that the accused is the senior most Cabinet Minister in the State of West Bengal having immense power and position, it would not be impossible for the accused with the aide of other political executives to take shelter under the garb of serious illness and medical treatment to evade interrogation,” Justice Chaudhuri added.
Partha Chatterjee was admitted to the SSKM Hospital on Saturday evening on a local court’s order, hours after he was taken into custody by ED officials. Chatterjee had complained of “uneasiness” after he was sent to two-day ED custody.
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But the ED approached the Calcutta High Court against the local court’s order to shift Chatterjee to SSKM. The ED claimed that the lower court’s order “was not in accordance with the law”, adding that if Chatterjee was unwell, he should have been sent to Command Hospital, instead of SSKM.
On Saturday evening, Chatterjee was examined by a team of senior doctors from nephrology, cardiology, and endocrinology departments. Several tests, including ECG, were conducted on him after he was hospitalised and admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).
He was later moved to a cabin of the cardiology department and was being treated there. Cardiologist Dr Saroj Mondal was heading the team of doctors looking after Chatterjee.
“He (Chatterjee) is stable. Some tests have been conducted and he is being administered medicines,” said a senior official of SSKM.
According to doctors, the minister has several comorbidities like obesity, kidney issues, sleep apnea for which he takes medicines regularly and has to maintain a timetable.
“A team of six doctors have been formed to keep a close watch on Chatterjee’s health condition. The medical board held a meeting to discuss his health parameters,” said the SSKM Hospital officer.
Meanwhile, the High Court in its order stated that Chatterjee will be accompanied by a doctor of SSKM and his lawyer. “The AIIMS, Bhubaneswar Authority is directed to medically examine the accused by a team of specialist doctors of cardiology, nephrology, respiratory medicines and endocrinology. The AIIMS, Bhubeneswar will prepare a report and handover the copies of the same to the Investigating Officer, Medical Officer of SSKM Super speciality Hospital and the learned advocate for the accused by 3 pm on July 25 (Monday),” the High Court ordered.
“The Investigating Officer shall forward a soft copy of the above-mentioned medical report to his counterpart in Calcutta who, in turn, shall produce it before the learned Special Judge under the PML Act. The learned Special Judge shall take up the hearing of the case… on July 25,” it added as Chatterjee’s custody is set to end on Monday.
Chatterjee was arrested Saturday morning in connection with the alleged illegalities in the appointment of primary and secondary school teacher and teaching staff by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education in government-sponsored and aided schools when he was the state education minister.
The ED had recovered a huge amount of cash, amounting to approximately Rs 20 crore, from the residential premises of a close associate of Chatterjee, Arpita Mukherjee.
On Sunday, a city court sent Arpita Mukherjee to one-day ED custody. Sources said that ED is planning to question Partha Chatterjee and Arpita Mukherjee together.
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