AFTER a special Enforcement Directorate (ED) court sought a report from the state-run SSKM Hospital on former education minister Partha Chatterjee’s health status, the hospital on Wednesday submitted a report saying that his condition was “progressive”.

Chatterjee’s counsel had recently approached the court, appealing that the former minister would like to avail of treatment at a private hospital in the city and not SSKM, where he is presently being treated for his health condition.

The court on Wednesday told the counsel that Chatterjee could avail of the treatment but “at his own cost and risk of being transferred.”

Senior advocate Biplob Goswami submitted to the court, “Since his health condition deteriorated, we had put in an application to shift Chatterjee to a private hospital. He is still on oxygen support and there is no visible improvement in his condition.”

The court has ordered the Kolkata Police Commissioner to ensure that proper security cover is in place at the hospital. Chatterjee’s counsel moved the court on January 22.

Chatterjee, the prime accused in the alleged cash-for-job scam in the education department, was admitted to the ICCU of the SSKM Medical College and Hospital from the Presidency Correctional Home last Monday after he experienced breathing difficulty. On Thursday night, hospital sources said, his health deteriorated further and he was shifted to the ICCU cardiology department from the emergency observation ward.

On December 13 last year, the Supreme Court granted conditional bail to Chatterjee, saying that he could be released on bail on February 1, 2025, subject to his furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court.

In July 2022, the ED arrested the then industries and commerce minister in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitment to the West Bengal School Service Commission. Chatterjee was the state education minister when the alleged irregularities occurred.