Kolkata: A special PMLA court on Tuesday sent former Bengal fire services minister Sujit Bose to 10-day Enforcement Directorate custody in connection with the alleged municipality recruitment scam.
ED alleged that Bose, as vice-chairperson of South Dum Dum municipality between 2010 and 2021, played a role in the "illegal recruitment" of at least 40 candidates in lieu of money.
Bose, arrested on Monday night after more than 10 hours of questioning, was taken to the special PMLA court after medical tests. Dressed in a white shirt, he sat in a corner as ED lawyer Dhiraj Trivedi started his arguments.
The central investigating agency, which has conducted searches at Bose's Sreebhumi residence, shops and office, maintained that it had evidence that pointed to money being stashed in his accounts. ED officials claimed to have come across nearly Rs 8 crore being deposited in bank accounts related to Bose's restaurants during the Covid period and before that.
ED said it had gone through the bank accounts of a Chinese restaurant and a dhaba owned by Bose and found cash transactions and money being deposited into his accounts. "The hotels and restaurants were closed during the Covid period. How was he running the business and receiving money?" Trivedi argued. The agency also pointed out alleged discrepancies between cash entries and deposits in the accounts of the restaurants.
The case started after ED officials stumbled upon documents available with one Ayan Sil in connection with the school jobs-for-cash scam. Officers came across references to municipality jobs being offered to ineligible candidates in lieu of money. ED had earlier questioned Nitai Datta, a close Bose aide, in the case.
Bose's lawyer Ayan Bhattacharya argued that his last statement was recorded in Nov 2025 and no action was taken on that. "Every action of ED is subject to judicial review," he said. While Bose's lawyers pleaded for bail, the judge denied that and sent him to ED custody till May 21.
Bose's son Samudra alleged that his father's name did not appear in the list of predicate offences. "ED has submitted its statement in court and the matter is sub judice. We have always cooperated with the investigation, and he went to the ED office on Monday. We live in a democratic country and we have complete faith in the judiciary. I have not yet received a copy of the court order; it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment," he said.