TMC’s Sujit Bose got luxury flats, routed crores for illegal municipality jobs: ED

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has levelled explosive allegations against former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose, accusing the senior TMC leader of receiving luxury flats and laundering crores of rupees as part of the sprawling municipality recruitment scam in Bengal.

According to the federal agency, Bose emerged as a ‘primary beneficiary’ of the alleged cash-for-jobs racket that stretched across several municipalities and involved the illegal recruitment of candidates for multiple civic posts.

The ED told the court that Bose was arrested on May 11 after repeatedly avoiding summons and allegedly refusing to cooperate with investigators probing the money laundering case linked to the recruitment scam.

Investigators claimed that the former TMC minister continuously sought adjournments, citing ‘preoccupations’ and, even when he appeared before officials, gave evasive replies during questioning.

In one of the most sensational allegations in the case, the ED claimed Bose received multiple luxury flats as ‘proceeds of crime’ in return for facilitating appointments in municipalities across West Bengal.

The agency further alleged that crores of rupees generated through illegal recruitments were routed through Bose’s business ventures to convert illicit cash into legitimate assets.

The probe, initiated based on a CBI FIR and directions from the Calcutta High Court, has uncovered what investigators described as a deep-rooted conspiracy involving the manipulation of OMR sheets and merit lists.

According to the ED, the recruitment scam spread across municipalities including South Dum Dum, Baranagar, Halisahar, Kanchrapara, New Barrackpore, Kamarhati and Titagarh.

The alleged illegal appointments reportedly covered a wide range of civic posts, including clerks, peons, sweepers, ambulance attendants, pump operators, and drivers.

The ED also alleged that recruitment-related contracts in several municipalities were handed to a single company, ABS Infozon Pvt Ltd, allegedly controlled by Ayan Sil.

Investigators claimed the firm manipulated OMR sheets and merit rankings to secure jobs for ‘unmeritorious candidates’ in exchange for money and favours.

During searches linked to the investigation, officials seized nearly Rs 3.45 crore in cash along with property documents and electronic devices that the agency says are linked to the scam.

Bose has been sent to 10 days’ ED custody by a court at Bichar Bhavan as investigators continue to probe the alleged role of other influential political figures in the municipality recruitment racket.