Enforcement Directorate arrest of Sujit Bose links to PMLA municipality recruitment scam probe

The Enforcement Directorate arrested former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose in Kolkata under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Officials said the case relates to an alleged municipality recruitment scam and associated money laundering. Bose was questioned for hours at the agency’s Salt Lake office and is due in a special PMLA court.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose on Monday. Officials said the arrest linked to a money laundering case. The case relates to alleged recruitment irregularities in several municipalities in West Bengal. Bose was taken into custody after questioning at the ED’s CGO Complex office in Salt Lake, Kolkata.

Officials said Bose, 63, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Investigators claimed Bose gave evasive and inconsistent replies during questioning. Bose will be produced before a special PMLA court in Kolkata on Tuesday. ED officials said they will seek custody for further interrogation.

ED arrest in municipality recruitment scam case

Bose reached the ED office at about 10.30 am with son Samudra Bose. Reports said both remained inside the CGO Complex for over 11 hours. After news of the arrest, lawyer Amalesh Roy spoke outside. Roy said, "I wasnt allowed entry inside the interrogation chamber. I will not be able to say what exactly transpired inside.\"

ED sources said the questioning focused on alleged recruitment manipulation at the Dakshin Dum Dum municipality. Bose earlier served as vice chairman there, officials said. Investigators described the municipality as a key location in the wider civic body recruitment scam. The probe covers alleged hiring irregularities across several posts and multiple municipalities in the state.

Sleuths said the alleged scam involved recruitment of labourers, sweepers, clerks and peons. It also covered ambulance attendants, pump operators, helpers and sanitary assistants. Drivers and other categories were also part of the inquiry. Officials said the Dakshin Dum Dum civic body was among those under scrutiny in the case.

ED claims on proceeds of crime in municipality recruitment scam

Officials alleged Bose had a direct role in recommending about 150 people for municipal jobs. They claimed the recommendations were made in return for pecuniary benefits. The ED said it traced proceeds of crime linked to flats allegedly acquired by Bose. Investigators also said they found cash deposits in bank accounts under Bose’s control.

Agency sources said Bose was confronted with statements from previously arrested suspects. Officials also referred to bank transactions and other documents. They claimed Bose could not provide satisfactory explanations when questioned. The ED said it used these materials to assess the suspected money trail.

The money laundering probe followed a CBI FIR, officials said. The FIR was filed on the directions of the Calcutta High Court. During the Assembly polls campaign, the ED issued multiple summons to Bose. Bose then approached the Calcutta High Court and sought exemption, citing campaign commitments, officials said.

ED inquiry timeline in municipality recruitment scam

After the elections, Bose appeared before ED investigators at the CGO Complex on May 1. The ED had earlier raided Bose’s premises in October 2025, officials said. Establishments owned by Bose and son Samudra Bose were searched twice last year, investigators said. Officials also said premises linked to former minister Rathin Ghosh were searched.

Investigators claimed they recovered incriminating documents during those searches. The ED said the case gained momentum after leads surfaced in 2023. Officials said the leads emerged during searches in the West Bengal teachers recruitment scam case. The ED said documents were recovered from premises linked to Ayan Sil.

Sil is the director of ABS Infozon, officials said. The firm handled printing of question papers and OMR sheets for some municipal recruitments. Officials said it also worked on evaluation of marks and preparation of merit lists. The ED said these activities covered various municipal corporations in the state.

The ED said it has filed a charge sheet against Sil and some others. Officials said other municipalities under scanner included Kanchrapara and New Barrackpore. The list also included Kamarhati, Titagarh and Baranagar. Halisahar, South Dum Dum and Dum Dum were also named by the agency.

The arrest came soon after a change in the state’s administration, officials noted. It was described as the first major arrest of a TMC leader since the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government took charge on Saturday. Bose is a three-time MLA from Bidhannagar. Bose lost the recent Assembly election to BJP’s Sharadwat Mukherjee by over 37,000 votes.

BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar responded to the arrest. Sarkar said, \"Let the law take its own course. The party has no business interfering in the probe. If he is innocent, he should walk free. If he isnt, he will be punished in accordance with law,\" Sarkar said. The statement backed the ongoing investigation.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also reacted to the arrest. Chakraborty said Bose was not among the main beneficiaries of the alleged scam. Chakraborty said, \"People of Bengal voted to reject the TMC because its theft of public money and institutional corruption became glaring. The agency should now look at the top leaders of the party who were the real beneficiaries,\" he said.

ED officials said Bose’s court appearance on Tuesday will decide the next stage of questioning. The agency maintained the case concerns suspected laundering tied to municipal hiring. Investigators said the probe spans multiple civic bodies and several job categories. Political reactions continued, while the ED prepared to seek custody for further examination.

With inputs from PTI