Calcutta HC judge recuses from Sujit Bose bail plea over record access bid

Calcutta High Court Justice Shuvra Ghosh has recused herself from hearing the bail application of former West Bengal minister and TMC leader Sujit Bose, after alleging that one of his lawyers and her private secretary attempted to access case records from her chamber after the matter was reserved for judgment. LiveLaw and India Today both report the incident, which occurred on August 18, a day after arguments concluded. The judge, in her August 19 order, stated that the counsel and her private secretary went to the chamber, asked staff to bring out the case file, and then tried to enter the chamber. The staff refused. The judge described the conduct as smelling of an oblique motive.

The Enforcement Directorate is contesting the bail plea, which is linked to the alleged school recruitment scam. Senior advocate Saybasachi Banerjee appeared for Bose, while ASG S.V. Raju and others represented the ED. Justice Ghosh has reported the matter to the Acting Chief Justice. The bail application will now be reassigned to another bench. The judge did not rule on the merits of the plea.