ED arrests former minister Sujit Bose in municipal job scam

Former state fire services minister and senior Trinamul Congress leader Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday night in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal after nearly 10 hours of questioning at the agency’s Salt Lake office.

Bose appeared before ED officials at the CGO Complex in response to a summons issued in connection with the ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment in several municipalities, on Monday. He will be produced before Bidhannagar special ED court. ED officials will send him to hospital for his health check up. His son also accompanied him during the questioning session. According to ED sources, the former minister was taken into custody after investigators allegedly found inconsistencies in his statements during the marathon interrogation. Following the completion of legal formalities, the agency formally arrested him late on Monday evening.

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The ED has been probing allegations that jobs in municipal bodies were secured in exchange of money. Bose had been under the scanner of the Central agency for a considerable period over his alleged role in the recruitment irregularities. Sources said Bose had earlier received multiple notices from the ED beginning 6 April, coinciding with the filing of nomination papers for the Assembly elections and continuing through the poll period.

At the time, Bose, who contested the Bidhannagar Assembly seat as a Trinamul Congress candidate and lost, had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking relief, citing his involvement in election campaigning.

Trinamul Congress sources maintained that Bose avoided appearing before the ED during the election period in compliance with court directions. After the elections concluded, he appeared before ED officials on 1 May and was questioned for several hours in the presence of his lawyer. Before entering the ED office on Monday, Bose told reporters that he had come carrying a copy of the court order. On Monday, he again appeared before investigators, leading to another prolonged round of interrogation that ultimately culminated in his arrest.

ED officials indicated that Bose would undergo a medical examination before being produced before a special court, possibly later on Monday night. The arrest is expected to intensify the political storm surrounding the municipal recruitment scam, which has already drawn several senior leaders and former civic officials into the ambit of investigation.