ED raids Madan Mitra-linked premises in West Bengal municipalities job case
Synopsis
The ED on Saturday raided at least seven premises linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra in connection with West Bengal's cash-for-municipalities job case — a probe into alleged financial irregularities in municipal recruitment. The BJP backed the action, saying those found guilty will face punishment. The raids signal a fresh escalation in central agency scrutiny of TMC-linked figures.
Key Takeaways
The Enforcement Directorate conducted simultaneous raids at seven locations linked to TMC MLA Madan Mitra on 13 June .
The searches are part of the cash-for-municipalities job case , probing alleged irregularities in West Bengal municipal recruitment.
Madan Mitra is the TMC legislator from Kamarhati , North 24 Parganas , and a former state minister.
BJP MLA Pawan Singh and leader Locket Chatterjee both backed the ED action, calling for punishment if evidence is established.
Police were also deployed outside the residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee , according to reports.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday, 13 June conducted simultaneous raids across multiple locations in Kolkata and adjoining districts, targeting premises linked to Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Madan Mitra in connection with the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities job case in West Bengal. The central agency searched at least seven locations associated with Mitra as part of its ongoing probe into alleged irregularities in municipal recruitment.
What the ED Searched
Among the sites covered were two residences linked to Madan Mitra, the TMC MLA from the Kamarhati Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district and a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee-led government. According to sources, the searches are part of the agency's broader investigation into suspected financial transactions and alleged money trails connected to irregular appointments in municipal bodies across the state.
What the Case Is About
The cash-for-municipalities job case centres on allegations of widespread irregularities in recruitment to various municipal bodies in West Bengal. Investigators are examining the alleged role of individuals suspected of facilitating or benefiting from unauthorised appointments, as well as the financial flows connected to those transactions. The ED has been pursuing this probe for an extended period, and Saturday's searches represent a significant escalation in its field operations.
BJP Backs the ED Action
Bhatpara BJP MLA Pawan Singh welcomed the raids, arguing that central and state investigative agencies had been probing several individuals for a long time and were now pursuing those investigations more rigorously. 'For a long time, agencies like the ED, CBI, and CID have been conducting investigations against several individuals. When some of these people were in power, they did not cooperate with the agencies, but now that they are out of power, the investigations are being carried out more strictly…,' Singh said.
BJP leader Locket Chatterjee also backed the agency's move, saying legal consequences must follow if evidence of wrongdoing is established. 'They have looted so much from the people, but there was no punishment. So, there will be an investigation. If evidence is found, they will definitely be punished…,' Chatterjee said, also referencing police deployment outside the residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee.
Broader Context
This comes amid a sustained pattern of central agency action against TMC-linked figures in West Bengal, a dynamic that the ruling party in the state has repeatedly characterised as politically motivated. The BJP, which governs at the Centre, has consistently maintained that the investigations are independent and legally driven. Notably, the cash-for-jobs controversy in West Bengal has already drawn scrutiny across multiple agencies, with earlier probes into school recruitment irregularities setting a precedent for the current municipal-level investigation.
As the ED widens its probe, the political temperature in West Bengal is expected to rise further, with both sides hardening their positions ahead of any formal charges or court proceedings.
Point of View
And the conflation of the two carries its own political risk. The cash-for-municipalities case also raises a structural question that neither party wants to answer — how did large-scale irregular recruitment in municipal bodies persist for so long without administrative intervention? The ED's probe may deliver convictions, but accountability for systemic failure runs wider than any single MLA.
NationPress
30 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cash-for-municipalities job case in West Bengal?
It is a case involving alleged irregularities in recruitment to municipal bodies across West Bengal, where individuals are suspected of facilitating or benefiting financially from unauthorised appointments. The ED has been investigating the alleged money trail connected to these transactions.
How many locations did the ED search?
According to sources, the ED searched at least seven locations linked to Madan Mitra, including two of his residences, as part of Saturday's simultaneous raid operations in Kolkata and adjoining districts.
What did BJP leaders say about the ED raids?
BJP MLA Pawan Singh said agencies are now pursuing investigations more strictly against individuals who did not cooperate when they were in power. BJP leader Locket Chatterjee said those found guilty should face punishment, adding that people had been 'looted' without consequence.
Was TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee also targeted?
Police were deployed outside the residence of TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee on the same day, according to reports. However, the ED's stated search operations were linked specifically to premises associated with Madan Mitra in connection with the municipalities job case.
