The Kolkata Zonal Office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday said that it had recently conducted search operations at seven places in and around Kolkata in connection with the Municipality Recruitment Scam.
The premises covered during searches include the offices and residences of associates of the main suspects/accused of the Municipality Recruitment Scam. Premises of Radiant Enterprise Pvt Ltd, Garodia Securities Ltd, Jeet Construction and Consultants, etc., were searched along with the residences of the Promoters/Directors of these companies/firms. During the course of searches, various incriminating documents, including property documents, digital devices, and cash amounting to approximately Rs 3 crore, have been seized.
The searches have uncovered a modus operandi whereby tainted money of the main suspects/accused in the Municipality Recruitment Scam was being laundered through the companies/firms in the guise of bogus services. ED had recently conducted searches at 13 premises on 10.10.2025, including the office of Sujit Bose, MLA and Minister of Fire and Emergency Services, West Bengal, wherein incriminating documents and cash amounting to Rs 45 lakh were also seized.
ED initiated an investigation in the case on the basis of an FIR registered by CBI on the directions of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta. It is pertinent to mention that the ED had filed an application being CAN 2 of 2023 in WPA 9979 of 2022 with CAN 1 of 2023 in the matter of Soumen Nandy Vs The State of West Bengal & Ors before the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta placing therein a status report on its findings related to the illegalities committed in the recruitment of various posts in the municipalities spread across the state of West Bengal.
Earlier, during an investigation by ED in the Primary Teachers Recruitment Scam, searches were carried out at various premises linked to Ayan Sil and others in 2023. During the search, several incriminating documents along with digital evidence were recovered and seized from the possession of Ayan Sil. The scrutiny of the incriminating documents had revealed that the scam is not only limited to recruitment of the teachers but also covers several other appointments by various municipalities [including Kanchrapara, New Barrackpore, Kamarhati, Titagarh, Baranagar, Halisahar, South Dum Dum (N), Dum Dum, etc.] which include recruitment of Mazdoors (मजदूर), Sweepers, Clerks, Peon, Ambulance attendants, Assistant Mistries, Pump operators, Helpers, Sanitary assistants, Drivers, etc.
The ED investigation revealed that the contracts pertaining to various Municipal Corporations, Municipalities, etc. were given to a single company, M/s. ABS Infozon Pvt Ltd. (Director- Ayan Sil) for the printing of question papers, printing of OMR sheets, evaluation of marks obtained by the candidates, and preparation of the merit list, etc. Ayan Sil and other high functionaries, including public servants and political leaders hatched a criminal conspiracy among themselves including other private persons and in pursuance to that conspiracy Ayan Sil, Director of M/s ABS Infozon Pvt. Ltd. by abusing his power and position being responsible for the printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets resorted to manipulation of OMR sheets of the candidates and facilitated the illegal appointments of several unmeritorious candidates in several municipalities in lieu of money.
The ED has already filed a Prosecution Complaint in the case against Ayan Sil before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA), Kolkata. ED had earlier also conducted a search at the premises of various functionaries of Municipalities, residential premises of Sujit Bose, MLA, and Rathin Ghosh, MLA, and Minister of Food & Supplies, West Bengal.
Further investigation is in progress.