The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to interfere with the
arrest of Trinamool Congress leader and former chairman of West Bengal Board
of Primary Education Manik Bhattacharya by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in
connection with the money laundering matter regarding the teachers' appointment
scam.
A bench comprising Justices Aniruddha Bose and Vikram
Nath refused to interfere with the arrest of Bhattacharya by the ED.
During the hearing, Bhattacharya's counsel had argued
that the court had granted him protection from arrest in the CBI matter and it
should be extended in the case of ED. The counsel further argued that
Bhattacharya appeared before the ED on every occasion, but they claim that he
was not cooperating.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED,
said it is an independent investigation by an independent agency.
On October 10, Manik Bhattacharya was arrested by the
ED in connection with the money laundering matter in the teacher's appointment
scam. The top court dismissed Bhattacharya's plea challenging his arrest in the
money laundering case.