Out on bail after three years, former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee, 73, the major accused in the cash-for-school-jobs fraud, has let the cat out of the bag by revealing that the co-accused in the case, Arpita Mukherjee, was his girlfriend.
In 2021, the Mamata Banerjee government was left red-faced when the Enforcement Directorate recovered Rs 50 crore from Arpita’s apartments, leading to the arrest of both Arpita and Partha in connection with the scam. He continued by saying that many senior leaders and ministers in Bengal have “colourful romantic lives” outside of their marriages, and that even “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is aware of it.” What also set rumour mills spinning was the discovery of sex toys.
In an explosive interview with a media channel since his release from jail, Mamata Banerjee’s former close aide admitted that Arpita is his lover and questioned what was wrong with having a 33-year-old girlfriend when other senior leaders in the Trinamool Congress, despite being married, “have more than two girlfriends.”
Pointing to senior leaders like Sovan Chatterjee and Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, Partha said, “Do you think didimoni (Mamata Banerjee) doesn’t know about it? From Bengali serials to movie stars, she knows who is with whom.”
When asked about being ridiculed for the age gap with Arpita, who was granted bail exactly a year back, Partha said, “I feel sorry for those criticising me, as I know everything about them. I don’t want to put them down by opening my mouth.”
At the mention of former Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee, his partner Baisakhi Banerjee lashed out at Partha, claiming that he had initially introduced Arpita as his maternal niece.
“If he hadn’t indulged in corruption, this day wouldn’t have come when he would have to publicly admit his intimate relationship with Arpita,” she said.
Baisakhi went on to claim that Partha had been involved with several women even while his wife was alive.
“Just as he knows everyone’s girlfriends’ names, I also know many of his partners – and if I disclose them, he will be in trouble,” Baisakhi said.
In the meantime, Sovan Chatterjee has returned to politics, joining the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and been named chair of the New Town Kolkata Development Authority last month.
