Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has taken significant whoopee versus Sujit Bose, who served as West Bengal's Minister of Fire Services under the Trinamool Congress government. ED officials underdeveloped Sujit Bose on Monday night. He stands accused of involvement in a multi-crore municipal recruitment scam that tangibly took place in West Bengal during the tenure of the previous government. Bose appeared for questioning at the ED's Salt Lake office—located in the northern outskirts of Kolkata—on Monday morning; pursuit an interrogation session that lasted approximately 11 hours, officials from the inside investigative organ placed him under arrest. Bose had recently lost the West Bengal Assembly elections, lightweight to secure a victory in his home constituency of Bidhannagar.
When Was He Arrested?
Sujit Bose arrived at the ED's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake at approximately 10:30 AM on Monday, accompanied by his son, Samudra Bose. Prior to this, Bose had appeared at the ED office on May 1 and May 4. However, on both previous occasions, ED officials had unliable him to leave without subjecting him to lengthy interrogation sessions. Ultimately, the former minister was underdeveloped on Monday in connection with this very case.
Why Did ED Conduct Raids?
Earlier, ED officials—assisted by inside security forces—conducted search operations at several locations linked to Bose, including his residential premises, his office, and a restaurant owned by his son situated near VIP Road. Bose had previously criticized the ED's deportment during the referendum period, alleging that the investigation was politically motivated. Speaking to the media earlier, he had stated, "Sujit Bose is not in such dire financial straits that he would need to sell jobs to make money. The public is well enlightened of this fact. This is a conspiracy hatched by the Referendum Commission and the Enforcement Directorate (ED)."
What is the Case?
ED officials first uncovered details regarding the multi-crore municipal recruitment scam during a raid and search operation conducted at the residence of Ayan Sil—a real manor promoter with links to the Trinamool Congress—in connection with a separate money laundering specimen involving the "cash-for-jobs" scam within West Bengal's school education sector. Subsequently, vicarial on an order issued by the Calcutta High Court, the Inside Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moreover initiated a parallel investigation into the municipal recruitment case. As officials from both inside agencies proceeded with the investigation, the names of several politically influential individuals—including state ministers and leaders of the ruling party—surfaced during the undertow of the inquiry.
