The scene outside the Eastern Bypass hospital on Tuesday afternoon was one of rising anticipation. Supporters had gathered long before the scheduled hour. At around 2:20 pm, Partha Chatterjee release was finally seen in motion. The former minister was wheeled out in a white floral kurta and a blue face mask. And the moment he appeared, the crowd erupted with chants of “Parthada Zindabad!”
The slogans, the crowd, the applause — all of it seemed too overwhelming for Chatterjee. He folded his hands in acknowledgement, but his eyes brimmed with tears. For the media waiting outside, he offered only silence. He shook his head to gently indicate he would not answer any questions — at least not yet.
A car waited at the entrance. Chatterjee took the front passenger seat, and the vehicle began its journey to his Naktala residence. Behind him, a long trail of supporters followed on motorcycles, many waving and recording the moment on their phones. Inside the car, he continued to greet those outside with folded hands.
A Homecoming Filled With Emotion
At his Naktala home, preparations were in place. Family members had gathered at the doorway to welcome him. His brother’s wife performed the traditional welcome ritual. His brother and niece stood beside her.
The moment Chatterjee stepped into his home after three years, three months, and nineteen days, the atmosphere shifted. Seeing his family again, he broke down. His niece held him and tried to calm him.
Once inside, the main door was closed — partly to give the family privacy, partly because the gathering outside continued to grow. Supporters outside chanted again: “Parthada Zindabad!” Many wanted to know when he would visit Behala, his long-time political base.
Inside the house, Chatterjee’s first words were reportedly in memory of his late uncle — noted lyricist Shibdas Bandyopadhyay.
The Legal Journey Behind the Release
Partha Chatterjee release followed a direction from the Supreme Court. In the 2022 SSC recruitment case, the Court had earlier stated that once the trial began and early witness examinations progressed, conditional bail may be granted.
On Monday, after the eighth witness in the case completed testimony, the Special CBI Court in Alipore issued the release order. Documents were then transferred from the court to Presidency Jail and later to the hospital, where Chatterjee had been lodged for medical supervision.
His lawyer, Biplab Goswami, told reporters that further legal steps will continue. For now, doctors have advised Chatterjee to rest and avoid public activity.
What Happens Next?
The Partha Chatterjee release has already injected fresh speculation into West Bengal’s political narrative.
Will he return to active politics?
What will be his equation with the Trinamool Congress leadership?
Will his influence in Behala and southern Kolkata resurface?
The answers are unclear — but the questions will shape political discourse in the coming weeks.
For now, Partha Chatterjee is back home — resting, recovering, and just beginning to reconnect with the world outside confinement.
