After 10-hour grilling, ED arrests former Bengal minister Sujit Bose in municipal recruitment scam
The Statesman | 12 May 2026
Former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate late Monday night in connection with the alleged municipal recruitment scam linked to appointments in the South Dum Dum Municipality.
The arrest followed over 10 hours of questioning by ED officials, as the agency intensified its probe into alleged irregularities in civic body recruitments across West Bengal. Bose, a former Fire Services Minister and ex-MLA from Bidhannagar, is expected to be produced before a special PMLA court on Tuesday.
The development triggered sharp political reactions, with BJP MLA Sajal Ghosh claiming the arrest was “long overdue” and alleging that Bose had already been given sufficient opportunity by the investigating agency.
“At the very least, he won’t be able to claim that he is being harassed simply because an election is approaching… He was bound to end up in jail anyway. He was destined for prison… The ED actually gave him ample opportunity… He is finally behind bars… he should have gone much sooner. He is going to jail far too late,” Ghosh told ANI.
According to officials, the ED suspects Bose played a key role in facilitating appointments to municipal posts through unofficial recommendations and monetary transactions. Investigators have alleged that nearly 150 candidates were recommended for jobs outside the established recruitment process.
The agency claimed the appointments were not conducted transparently and may have involved financial exchanges in return for securing positions in the municipality.
Officials said the investigation, being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), has also uncovered alleged proceeds of crime directly linked to Bose.
According to ED sources, investigators have identified multiple flats allegedly acquired as part of quid pro quo arrangements connected to the recruitment process. These properties are likely to come under scrutiny for possible attachment during the investigation.
The agency has also flagged several cash deposits in bank accounts allegedly linked to Bose. Officials suspect the transactions may be tied to payments received for facilitating municipal appointments.
“Financial records and transaction trails are currently being examined to establish the full extent of the alleged money laundering network,” officials said.
The arrest comes amid an expanding crackdown by the Enforcement Directorate into alleged recruitment-related corruption cases in West Bengal. Central agencies have been investigating multiple allegations involving irregular appointments in educational institutions and municipal bodies in recent years.
According to officials, the ED believes the recruitment process in several municipalities may have been manipulated through political recommendations, bypassing established norms and procedures.
Officials said Bose would be questioned further regarding the recruitment process, financial transactions, and the alleged beneficiaries linked to the appointments.
The development is expected to trigger fresh political confrontation in the state as the probe deepens into the alleged nexus between public officials and illegal recruitment practices.