ED questions ex-South Dum Dum Municipality chief in Bengal municipal jobs scam
Synopsis
Days after arresting ex-Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose — accused of recommending 150 candidates for pay — the ED has now called in Panchu Roy, former chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality, for a second round of questioning. With both the CBI and ED closing in, Bengal's municipal jobs scam is widening into one of the state's most consequential corruption probes.
Key Takeaways
Panchu Roy , former chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality , appeared before the ED in Kolkata on 18 May for questioning in the municipal jobs scam.
Former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose was arrested by the ED last week in the same case and remains in agency custody.
Investigators allege Bose recommended at least 150 candidates for municipal posts in exchange for money.
Roy's name had earlier appeared in the CBI charge sheet; this is his second ED appearance in the case.
The scam was first uncovered during ED raids on properties linked to TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil in the school jobs scam probe.
The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to conduct a separate parallel investigation into the municipal recruitment irregularities.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, 18 May questioned Panchu Roy, former chairman of the Trinamool Congress (TMC)-run South Dum Dum Municipality in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, at its Salt Lake office in Kolkata, in connection with an alleged multi-crore cash-for-municipal-jobs scam. Roy's appearance comes days after the ED arrested former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose in the same case.
Roy Faces Questioning Alongside Arrested Ex-Minister
According to sources, Roy is likely to be questioned alongside Bose, who remains in ED custody following his arrest last week. Investigators arrested Bose after prolonged interrogation and scrutiny of documents and financial records. According to sources, evidence gathered during the probe allegedly indicates that Bose recommended at least 150 candidates for municipal appointments in exchange for money.
This is Roy's second appearance before the ED in connection with the case. During his earlier deposition, he denied any involvement in corruption or illegal recruitment and claimed the summons was intended only to harass him.
Roy's Name in CBI Charge Sheet
Roy's name had previously figured in the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel probe into the municipal recruitment irregularities alongside the ED. The Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to launch a separate investigation into the municipal recruitment case as the broader inquiry expanded.
How the Scam Came to Light
The ED first uncovered the alleged municipal jobs scam while conducting raids on properties linked to TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil during a separate investigation into the alleged school jobs scam and related money laundering activities in West Bengal. As that probe widened, the municipal recruitment angle emerged, drawing in multiple officials and political figures.
Bose's Political Background
Bose is a three-time TMC MLA from the Bidhannagar Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas. He lost his seat in the West Bengal Assembly election held last month, making his arrest a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on alleged corruption within municipal bodies in the state.
With both the ED and CBI deepening their investigations, further arrests and summons in the South Dum Dum Municipality scam are considered likely in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Not just one minister. What is notable is that this scam was not independently detected; it surfaced as a byproduct of the school jobs probe, raising questions about how deep municipal-level patronage networks run in West Bengal. Bose's electoral defeat last month removes his legislative immunity and political insulation simultaneously. The CBI and ED running parallel probes is efficient pressure but also a coordination risk — if charge sheets diverge, defence lawyers will exploit the gaps.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the South Dum Dum Municipality jobs scam?
It is an alleged multi-crore cash-for-jobs scheme in which municipal appointments in the TMC-run South Dum Dum Municipality in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district were reportedly sold for money. The scam came to light during ED raids linked to the separate school jobs scam probe.
Why was Sujit Bose arrested by the ED?
Former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose was arrested by the ED after prolonged interrogation and scrutiny of financial records. Investigators reportedly gathered evidence suggesting he recommended at least 150 candidates for municipal appointments in exchange for money.
Who is Panchu Roy and why is he being questioned?
Panchu Roy is the former chairman of the South Dum Dum Municipality. His name appeared in the CBI's charge sheet in the municipal recruitment case, and Monday marked his second appearance before the ED for questioning in the scam.
What role did the Calcutta High Court play in this case?
The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to launch a separate investigation into the municipal recruitment irregularities as the broader probe expanded. The CBI is now conducting a parallel inquiry alongside the ED.
How did the ED uncover the municipal jobs scam?
The ED stumbled upon the alleged municipal scam while raiding properties linked to TMC-linked promoter Ayan Shil during an investigation into the school jobs scam and related money laundering activities in West Bengal. The municipal angle emerged as that probe widened.
