The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, May 11, arrested Sujit Bose, a former minister and prominent Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader in West Bengal, in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to a large-scale municipality recruitment scam. Bose, who previously served as the Minister of Fire and Emergency Services, was taken into custody after a day of extensive questioning where officials confronted him with substantial evidence.
Investigation Details and Origin
The ongoing investigation originates from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which was initiated under direct orders from the Calcutta High Court. The probe centers on widespread illegalities in the recruitment processes across numerous municipalities throughout West Bengal.
The scope of this elaborate scam first came to light during a separate investigation in 2023 concerning a primary teachers' recruitment case. Subsequent scrutiny revealed that the fraud extended far beyond the education sector, encompassing manipulated appointments for various municipal positions.
The Allegations: Widespread Illegal Appointments
ED investigations have revealed a centralized conspiracy involving both public servants and political leaders. It is alleged that contracts for printing question papers, OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheets, and preparing merit lists for several municipal corporations—including Kanchrapra, New Barrackpore, and South Dum Dum—were consistently awarded to a single firm, M/s. ABS Infozon Pvt Ltd, directed by Ayan Sil.
“Ayan Sil... by abusing his power and position being responsible for the printing, designing and evaluation of OMR sheets resorted to manipulation of OMR sheets of the candidates and facilitated the illegal appointments of several unmeritorious candidates in lieu of money,” the agency stated.
These manipulated appointments allegedly covered a range of municipal roles, including Mazdoors, Sweepers, Clerks, Peons, Ambulance attendants, Drivers, Pump operators, and Sanitary assistants.
Previous Actions and Ongoing Probe
The federal agency intensified its crackdown on October 10, 2025, conducting extensive searches at 13 locations. These raids included the office and residence of Sujit Bose, leading to the seizure of incriminating documents and a substantial amount of cash, totaling Rs. 45 Lakh.
The ED has already filed a Prosecution Complaint against Ayan Sil before the Special Court (PMLA) in Kolkata. The arrest of Sujit Bose signals a further escalation in the investigation, which has also involved previous searches at the residences of other high-ranking officials, such as Rathin Ghosh, as the ED continues to trace the financial trail of the recruitment racket.