An application was filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to obtain information about the performance of the former West Bengal Education Minister and ex-Trinamool Congress secretary general during his tenure as the party legislator from Behala (Paschim) Assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district over the past five years. He had served as a legislator from that constituency for four terms starting from 2006, with his last election victory in 2021. However, a significant part of his term was spent in custody following his arrest in July 2022 in connection with a cash-for-school job case involving crores of rupees.
Although released on bail in November 2025, he refrained from engaging in any political activities, including addressing the concerns of his constituents. The applicant, Subhrajit Saha, a lawyer at the Calcutta High Court, filed the RTI application under Section 6 (1) of the RTI Act, 2005, claiming to represent the voters of Behala (Paschim) Assembly constituency who have the right to know about the performance of the former minister as their elected representative over the past five years.
The RTI application specifically requested details of the former minister’s activities in the West Bengal Assembly since 2021, including his speeches, zero-hour submissions, questions raised, and motions proposed, among other aspects. Additionally, the applicant sought information on the former minister’s participation in various standing committees of the Assembly, including his attendance at committee meetings, proposals put forth, and arguments made.
Initially, upon his release on bail, the former minister expressed his intention to resume his legislative duties and attend Assembly sessions. Despite attempts to reach out to prominent party members like Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, and state president Subrata Bakshi, he received no response. Subsequently, he withdrew from all political engagements and has since remained inactive.
