Madan Mitra appears before ED in West Bengal municipalities job scam
Synopsis
TMC legislator Madan Mitra walked into the ED's Salt Lake office on 29 July for questioning in a case where at least 125 people allegedly paid cash or gold for municipal jobs in North 24 Parganas. With his wife and sons already questioned, a parallel CBI chargesheet filed, and Mitra's own recent defection to a rebel TMC faction, the case is tightening on multiple fronts simultaneously.
Key Takeaways
Madan Mitra , TMC legislator from Kamarhati , appeared before the Enforcement Directorate in Salt Lake, Kolkata on 29 July .
The ED is probing allegations that at least 125 individuals obtained jobs in Titagarh Municipality , North 24 Parganas , allegedly in exchange for cash or gold.
Mitra's wife and two sons were questioned by the ED last week in the same case.
The CBI raided Mitra's residence in October 2025 and last week filed a chargesheet against former minister Sujit Bose and his son Samudra Bose under PMLA .
Mitra recently shifted to a rebel TMC faction led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee ; mainstream TMC leaders allege the ED notice prompted the move.
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Madan Mitra arrived at the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) eastern regional office at the Central Government Office (CGO) complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Wednesday, 29 July, for interrogation in connection with the West Bengal municipalities job recruitment irregularities case. Mitra, who represents the Kamarhati Assembly constituency, reached the agency's office at approximately 12.30 pm.
What Mitra Said Outside the ED Office
Before entering the premises, Mitra addressed the media, asserting that he had no involvement in any financial wrongdoing. 'I am not related to any kind of financial corruption,' he said, adding that his appearance was a fulfilment of his commitment to cooperate with the investigation. He declined, however, to respond to questions about whether the ED's notice had influenced his recent decision to align with a rebel faction within the TMC.
The Titagarh Municipality Allegations
According to sources aware of the investigation, the ED — the enforcement arm of the Union Ministry of Finance — has gathered information suggesting that at least 125 individuals secured jobs in Titagarh Municipality in North 24 Parganas district allegedly in exchange for cash or gold. Mitra's name reportedly surfaced during this line of inquiry.
On 13 June, ED officials conducted raids at two residences linked to Mitra — one in Bhabanipur, South Kolkata, and another in Kamarhati on the city's northern outskirts. Simultaneous search operations were carried out at seven other locations in and around the state capital on the same day.
Family Members Also Questioned
The scrutiny has extended to Mitra's immediate family. Last week, Mitra's two sons and his wife were summoned and questioned by ED officers in connection with the same case — a sign that investigators are examining financial trails beyond Mitra himself.
CBI Parallel Probe and Chargesheet
The ED investigation runs parallel to a separate probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which raided Mitra's Kamarhati residence in October 2025 in connection with the same municipality recruitment irregularities. Last week, the CBI filed a chargesheet against former West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and his son Samudra Bose in a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata, signalling that the broader probe is advancing toward prosecution.
Political Context: The Rebel Faction Shift
The interrogation comes amid significant political turbulence for Mitra. A three-time legislator from Kamarhati — first elected in 2011, and continuously since 2021 — Mitra was long regarded as a close confidant of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Recently, however, he reportedly shifted allegiance to a rebel faction within the TMC led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee. Leaders of the Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee-led mainstream TMC have claimed this move was prompted by the ED's notice, an assertion Mitra has neither confirmed nor denied publicly. The timing has drawn scrutiny from political observers watching the fractures within the ruling party in West Bengal.
Point of View
His son, and now a sitting legislator's family. What makes this politically significant is the timing: Mitra's defection to the rebel TMC faction coincides almost precisely with the escalation of central agency scrutiny, a pattern that has become familiar in West Bengal's political landscape. Whether the agency's interest preceded or triggered the political realignment is a question neither side has answered cleanly. The CBI chargesheet against Sujit Bose signals that at least one thread of this investigation is close to trial stage — which raises the stakes for everyone still under the ED's lens.
NationPress
29 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Madan Mitra summoned by the ED?
Madan Mitra was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate for questioning in the West Bengal municipalities job recruitment case. According to sources, the ED has information suggesting at least 125 people obtained jobs in Titagarh Municipality allegedly in exchange for cash or gold, and Mitra's name surfaced during the probe.
What is the West Bengal municipalities job scam?
The case involves alleged irregularities in municipal job recruitment across West Bengal, where positions were reportedly awarded in exchange for cash or gold rather than on merit. Both the ED and the CBI are conducting parallel investigations, with the CBI having already filed a chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Have Madan Mitra's family members also been questioned?
Yes. Mitra's wife and two sons were questioned by ED officers last week in connection with the same municipalities job case, indicating that investigators are examining financial links beyond Mitra himself.
What is the significance of Mitra joining the rebel TMC faction?
Mitra recently shifted to a rebel faction within the Trinamool Congress led by expelled legislator Ritabrata Banerjee, breaking from the mainstream party led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee. TMC leaders have publicly claimed the ED notice prompted the move, though Mitra declined to confirm or deny this.
What action has the CBI taken in the same case?
The CBI raided Mitra's Kamarhati residence in October 2025 in connection with the same recruitment irregularities. Last week, it filed a chargesheet against former West Bengal Minister Sujit Bose and his son Samudra Bose in a special PMLA court in Kolkata, marking a significant escalation toward prosecution.
