Newly appointed West Bengal minister Dilip Ghosh on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, alleged that most leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) are corrupt, speaking out a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested former state minister Sujit Bose in connection with an alleged municipal recruitment scam. Ghosh made the remarks during his morning walk at Eco Park in Kolkata, addressing media persons on his first day in office as minister.

What Ghosh Said

Ghosh alleged that TMC leaders had been involved in corruption across multiple domains, including sand mining, cow smuggling, and black money. He declared that all cases filed against corrupt leaders during the previous government would be reopened for thorough investigation.

"Most of the Trinamool leaders are corrupt. Until now, the police and the government have not given permission, so the investigation has not progressed. But now the investigation into all the cases will resume. Everything will be investigated. What the common people want will be implemented," Ghosh said.

On the specific issue of sand mining, Ghosh stated, "Have you heard of any such incidents in the last few days? Sand-laden trucks had been entering villages, damaging roads, and a goon tax was being collected. These things have stopped. People can inform us through their MLAs or by email, and the matter will be taken up with the Chief Minister."

The ED Arrest That Triggered the Remarks

The backdrop to Ghosh's comments was the ED's arrest of former minister and TMC leader Sujit Bose, 63, on Monday under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Bose was taken into custody following a day-long questioning session at the ED's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, in connection with a money laundering case linked to an alleged municipality recruitment scam in the state.

The New BJP Government's Mandate

Ghosh assumed charge as minister on Tuesday following the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. Speaking after the swearing-in ceremony of the new cabinet on Sunday, he had acknowledged the scale of the task ahead.

"We have to rebuild Bengal... There is no law and order here; people were living in fear... We have to work in every field, and it will take some time. But we will get down to work immediately, and you will see the change with your own eyes," he said.

What This Signals for Bengal Politics

Ghosh's remarks on his first day in office signal that the new BJP government intends to use the investigative machinery aggressively against its predecessor. This comes amid a broader pattern of post-election accountability drives seen in other states where the BJP has assumed power after long opposition tenures. Notably, the reopening of stalled cases — particularly those involving sand mining and recruitment scams — could set the tone for the government's early months and test the independence of the state police under new political direction. How quickly investigations translate into convictions will determine whether the rhetoric of accountability holds up.