A special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata on Tuesday, 13 May 2026, remanded former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose to Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody till 21 May, in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities jobs case. Bose, who served in the previous All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, was arrested by ED officials late Monday night after more than 10 hours of questioning at the agency's Salt Lake office in Kolkata.

Arrest and Remand

Sujit Bose was produced before the special PMLA court in Kolkata on Tuesday afternoon by investigating officials. After hearing arguments from both sides, the presiding judge accepted the ED's submissions and remanded Bose to agency custody until 21 May 2026. The ED had arrested him on the night of 12 May following an extended interrogation session at its Salt Lake office in the northern outskirts of Kolkata.

Defence Arguments and ED's Response

Bose's counsel moved a bail petition, arguing that the documents on which the ED based the arrest had reportedly been in the agency's possession since 2022–2023, raising questions about the legal justification for an arrest in 2026 on the basis of material that surfaced three to four years earlier. The ED counsel, however, strongly opposed the bail plea, contending that Bose — described as an influential politician — posed a credible risk of tampering with evidence and influencing witnesses if released. The court sided with the ED and rejected the bail application.

Who is Sujit Bose

Sujit Bose is a three-time TMC legislator from the Bidhannagar Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district, though he was defeated in the most recent election. He served as West Bengal Fire Services Minister under the previous TMC-led state government, making his arrest one of the more politically significant developments in the ongoing probe.

How the Case Unfolded

The municipalities' job case came to light when ED officials, while conducting raids at the residence of TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil in connection with the separate cash-for-school jobs money laundering case, first received information about alleged irregularities in municipal job appointments. Subsequently, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) launched a parallel probe into the municipalities' job case following an order of the Calcutta High Court. As investigations by both central agencies progressed, the names of several politically influential persons — including state ministers and ruling party leaders — reportedly surfaced.

What Comes Next

With Bose in ED custody until 21 May, investigators are expected to pursue further questioning and evidence gathering. The case is part of a broader pattern of central agency scrutiny into alleged corruption in West Bengal's public sector appointments, and further arrests of politically connected individuals cannot be ruled out as the probe deepens.