A major development in West Bengal’s infamous municipal recruitment scam came to light on Monday, when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former state minister Sujit Bose. According to sources, this action was taken after interrogating him for several hours. It is likely that he will be produced in the special court on Tuesday.
What was claimed in the ED investigation?
ED investigation has claimed that Sujit Bose had recommended about 150 candidates for recruitment to various posts in South Dumdum Municipality. It is alleged that he received financial benefits in return for these appointments. The investigating agency says that this alleged illegal earning was used to buy a flat and acquire other properties. Apart from this, evidence of huge cash transactions has also been found in several bank accounts linked to him.
On Monday morning, Sujit Bose along with his son Samudra Bose reached CGO Complex in Salt Lake, where ED officials interrogated him for a long time. He was taken into custody within a few hours of interrogation. Even before this, ED had summoned him for questioning several times.
It is being told that many notices were issued to Bose even during the assembly election campaign. He had sought relief from appearance from the Calcutta High Court citing election commitments. However, after the elections were over, he appeared before the ED on May 1 and recorded his statement.
Irregularities in recruitment of municipalities
The roots of this case are said to be related to the teacher recruitment scam that came to light in 2023. During the same investigation, the ED found documents and digital evidence which indicated that corruption was not limited to teacher appointments only, but there were large-scale irregularities in recruitments in several municipalities as well.
According to the investigating agencies, this scam is related to the recruitment of many posts like laborer, sweeper, clerk, peon, ambulance attendant, pump operator and driver. It is alleged that ineligible candidates were given jobs by taking money.
ED also claims that many contracts related to municipal bodies were given to the same private company, through which the recruitment process was manipulated. Now the agency is also thoroughly investigating this entire network and the role of other people involved in it.
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