Secondary education board ex-chief granted bail job scam case
The Statesman | 20 November 2025
After former education minister Partha Chatterjee, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday granted bail to former West Bengal Board of Secondary Education president Kalyanmoy Gangopadhyay in a CBI case related to the School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam.
With this, he has secured bail in both CBI and ED cases, clearing the way for his likely release from jail.
Gangopadhyay had moved the high court seeking bail in the CBI case. His petition was heard by the bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who approved the plea during the day.
The CBI had alleged that Gangopadhyay was involved in the irregularities linked to the controversial 2016 SSC recruitment panel.
At the time, he was heading the Madhyamik board. He first joined the board in 2012 as administrator of the ad-hoc committee and continued in the post for four years until 2016, when he was appointed president.
His tenure ended on 22 June, 2022, after which he was arrested by the CBI. The ED later arrested him in a related money-laundering case.
He was not only the board chief but also a member of an advisory committee formed by then education minister Partha Chatterjee.
Allegations had surfaced that he had continued as board president in violation of norms.
The school education department had twice increased the age limit for the post – first from 60 to 65, and then from 65 to 68.
Even after crossing 68, Gangopadhyay had reportedly continued in office for 16 months while drawing a full salary, raising questions over his extended tenure.
The Supreme Court had earlier struck down the 2016 SSC panel citing large-scale irregularities, leading to the cancellation of jobs for 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff.
Gangopadhyay has been accused of being involved in the alleged wrongdoing. With Wednesday’s order, he is now on bail in both the ED and CBI cases.