The Enforcement Directorate on Monday arrested former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sujit Bose in a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipal recruitment scam in the state, officials said.
This is the first major arrest of a TMC leader after the Suvendu Adhikari-led BJP government assumed power in the state on Saturday.
TMC leader Sujit Bose arrested
The central agency arrested the 63-year-old under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after interrogating him for several hours at the CGO complex office in Kolkata’s Salt Lake, news agency PTI reported.
Officials claimed that his answers during interrogation were “evasive” and at times “inconsistent,” and he was subsequently detained.
He is expected to be produced before a special PMLA court in Kolkata on Tuesday. The officials added that the ED would seek to detain him for further questioning.
The former fire department minister arrived at the ED office at around 10.30 am along with his son Samudra Bose.
According to latest reports, both were still inside the CGO compound, facing interrogation by the agency, more than 11 hours after their arrival.
After reports of his arrest emerged, Bose’s lawyer, Amalesh Roy, told ANI: “I don’t know officially if he has been arrested… The recording is still going on… They haven’t told us yet, we were sitting in the lobby… I can’t say anything.”
What is the case against Boss?
Bose was questioned over alleged hiring irregularities in Dakshin Dum Dum Municipality, where he previously served as deputy chief. ED sources told PTI that investigators believe that the municipality was one of the main centers of the alleged civic body recruitment scam in the state.
The investigation relates to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of labourers, sweepers, clerks, labourers, ambulance attendants, pump operators, helpers, health aides and drivers in several municipalities across West Bengal, including South Dum Dum.
Investigators alleged that Bose is suspected of having directly helped about 150 people get jobs in various categories in the municipality by recommending their appointments in exchange for financial gain.
The agency also claimed to have identified “proceeds of crime” in the form of apartments it allegedly obtained in exchange for jobs in the municipality. Officials also said cash deposits linked to bank accounts allegedly controlled by Bose were traced.
Bose, a three-time MLA from Bidhannagar, lost the last Assembly elections to BJP candidate Sharadwat Mukherjee by a margin of over 37,000 votes.
The CEO had previously raided the former minister’s residence in October 2025.
With input from agencies
