Team News Riveting
Kolkata, July 25
The West Bengal Minister Partha Chatterjee was on Monday flown to Odisha capital Bhubaneswar in an air ambulance by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following the direction of the Calcutta High Court.
Chatterjee, who was arrested in connection with an alleged school jobs scam on Saturday, was admitted to state-run SSKM hospital soon after ED apprehended him after 24 hours. The ED moved the Calcutta High Court on Sunday challenging the lower court order of sending arrested minister to the state-run SSKM hospital.
The central agency contested that the lower court can direct adequate treatment of a person but cannot specify a particular facility. The High Court on Sunday directed the EDto take to AIIMS Bhubaneswar early on Monday by air ambulance.
“He has been taken to Bhubaneswar in an air ambulance as per the Calcutta High Court direction,” an ED official said today. A team of ED officials was ready in Odisha airport to receive him.
Chatterjee was taken to the Kolkata airport in an ambulance earlier in the day from the hospital, where he was undergoing treatment. The Kolkata police had created a green corridor so that Chatterjee could reach the airport in around 30 minutes.
The ED officials said two of Chatterjee’s counsels also travelled with him. The West Bengal’s Industry and Parliamentary Affairs Minister was remanded to ED custody till Monday by a lower court in Kolkata.
He held the education portfolio when the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities at state government-sponsored and-aided schools took place.
The Calcutta High Court had directed that the minister, be produced before a special ED court in Kolkata through virtual mode at 4 pm on Monday.
Chatterjee was admitted to the private ward on his arrival in AIIMS Bhubaneswar. After a screening of his health condition, the West Bengal Minister was taken to a special cabin.
The Trinamool Congress leader was “greeted” with “chor chor (thief thief) when he reached AIIMS Bhubaneswar.
