Sujit Bose's restaurant earned ₹1.11 crore in Covid lockdown: ED tells PMLA court
Synopsis
A restaurant that was completely shut during the Covid-19 lockdown somehow recorded an income of ₹1.11 crore — and it belonged to former TMC minister Sujit Bose. The ED's disclosure before a Kolkata PMLA court on Tuesday adds a striking financial layer to the multi-crore municipal recruitment scam, with at least 150 allegedly illegal job placements also attributed to Bose.
Key Takeaways
Sujit Bose , former West Bengal minister and three-time TMC MLA, was arrested by the ED on Monday night, 12 May in connection with the municipal recruitment scam.
The ED told a special PMLA court in Kolkata that Bose's restaurant recorded an income of ₹1.11 crore during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 , when it was fully shut.
An additional ₹2.2 crore was allegedly transferred directly to Bose's personal account.
Investigators found evidence of at least 150 illegal recruitments in Uttar Dum Dum Municipality , allegedly on Bose's recommendation.
The ED sought 10 days of remand ; the court's order was pending as of Tuesday.
The case originated from raids on TMC -linked promoter Ayan Shil and has since drawn parallel scrutiny from the CBI following a Calcutta High Court order.
A restaurant owned by former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose reportedly earned over ₹1.11 crore during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020 despite remaining completely shut and having no employees in service, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) told a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata on Tuesday, 12 May. Bose, a former minister in the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, was arrested by ED officials on Monday night in connection with the multi-crore municipal recruitment scam.
Key Allegations Before the Court
The ED counsel informed the special PMLA court that the restaurant in question showed an income of ₹1.11 crore during the lockdown period — a time when the establishment was entirely closed and none of its staff was working. In addition to this amount, the agency submitted that ₹2.2 crore was transferred directly to Bose's personal account. Investigators also claimed to have unearthed multiple financial transactions between Bose and various individuals that allegedly lacked any legal basis.
Municipal Recruitment Scam Link
The ED further submitted before the court that it had found evidence of at least 150 illegal recruitments in the Uttar Dum Dum Municipality in North 24 Parganas district, allegedly carried out on Bose's recommendation. The agency sought 10 days of remand to interrogate the former minister further. As of Tuesday, the court's order was yet to be delivered.
Defence Counters the Arrest
Moving a bail plea, Bose's counsel argued that the documents on which the ED based its arrest were already in the possession of the investigating officers between 2022 and 2023 — three to four years before the arrest. The defence questioned the justification of acting on such dated material and also pointed out that the earlier charge sheet filed by the ED in the matter did not name Bose as an accused.
Background: How the Case Unfolded
Bose was presented before the special PMLA court on Tuesday afternoon following a marathon interrogation at the ED's Salt Lake office on the outskirts of Kolkata. A three-time TMC legislator from the Bidhannagar assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas, Bose was defeated in the most recent election. The ED first received information about the multi-crore municipalities' job case during raids at the residence of TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil, who was being probed in connection with the cash-for-school jobs scam in West Bengal. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently launched a parallel probe into the municipalities' job case following an order of the Calcutta High Court. As the two central agencies progressed with their investigations, the names of several politically influential individuals — including state ministers and ruling party leaders — reportedly surfaced.
What Happens Next
The court's decision on the ED's remand application and Bose's bail plea is awaited. The case is part of a broader pattern of central agency scrutiny of TMC-linked figures in West Bengal, and the outcome of Tuesday's hearing is likely to set the tone for further proceedings in the municipalities' recruitment scam.
Point of View
Raising questions about the timing. With the CBI running a parallel probe and the Calcutta High Court having ordered the investigation, this case is no longer just about Bose — it is a test of whether West Bengal's municipal hiring ecosystem has been systematically monetised, and whether central agencies can build a prosecution that withstands judicial scrutiny on procedural grounds.
NationPress
4 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Sujit Bose arrested by the ED?
Sujit Bose, a former West Bengal minister and TMC legislator, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Monday night, 12 May, in connection with the multi-crore municipal recruitment scam. The ED alleges he was involved in money laundering linked to illegal job placements in the Uttar Dum Dum Municipality.
What did the ED reveal about Sujit Bose's restaurant?
The ED told a special PMLA court in Kolkata that Bose's restaurant recorded an income of ₹1.11 crore during the Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, despite being completely shut with no employees in service. The agency presented this as evidence of alleged money laundering.
How much money was allegedly transferred to Sujit Bose personally?
According to the ED's submission before the court, ₹2.2 crore was transferred directly to Bose's personal account, in addition to the ₹1.11 crore shown as restaurant income during the lockdown period.
What is the municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal?
The scam involves alleged illegal recruitments in West Bengal's municipalities, with the ED finding evidence of at least 150 such placements in the Uttar Dum Dum Municipality allegedly on Bose's recommendation. The case came to light during ED raids on TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil and has since drawn a parallel CBI probe ordered by the Calcutta High Court.
What is Sujit Bose's defence against the arrest?
Bose's counsel argued that the documents used to justify the arrest were already with ED investigators between 2022 and 2023, questioning the delay of three to four years before acting. The defence also noted that Bose's name did not appear as an accused in the ED's earlier charge sheet in the matter.
