Manas Bhunia appears before police in Sabang cash-for-jobs probe
Times of India | 10 July 2026
Sabang: Former Bengal minister and seven-time MLA from Sabang, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, appeared before the Sabang police on Thursday following a court order. Accompanied by zilla parishad functionary Abu Kalam Box and another individual, Bhunia underwent intense questioning for nearly three hours in connection with an alleged cash-for-jobs scam before leaving the police station without addressing the media.
The veteran politician, who left the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in June, earlier approached both the Midnapore district court and the Calcutta high court seeking anticipatory bail. Following specific directives from the HC on Wednesday to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, Bhunia arrived at the Sabang police station around 11:30 am on Thursday.
According to police sources, the case stems from a written complaint lodged on June 10 by a resident of Bishnupur gram panchayat under the Sabang assembly constituency. The complainant alleged that ahead of the assembly elections, his wife was promised a job under CISB Services Private Limited at the Temathani Irrigation Bungalow through the direct mediation of Bhunia, who was the state’s irrigation minister at the time. However, to secure the employment, the complainant allegedly had to pay Rs 5 lakh to Sabang block TMC president and zilla parishad official Sheikh Abu Kalam Box, alongside another associate identified as Bholenath De.
While the woman joined the position and even received her salary in March, she was abruptly terminated within two months. Realising they had been defrauded of both the money and the employment, the complainant approached the police seeking legal action against Bhunia, which prompted the registration of a formal FIR.
Investigating officers revealed that Bhunia was served multiple prior notices to join the probe but failed to appear on the first two occasions. Following the court’s intervention, his statements regarding various aspects of the allegations were recorded during Thursday’s three-hour session.
Amulya Maity, vice-president of BJP’s Ghatal organisational district, said “sin eventually catches up with the sinner”, adding that those involved in corruption must face punishment as the law takes its natural course.