The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has named former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose as a primary beneficiary of a multi-crore municipality recruitment scam, alleging he received luxury flats as direct proceeds of crime and laundered cash running into crores through his business ventures. Bose was arrested on 11 May and is currently in ED custody for 10 days following a court order at Bichar Bhavan, Kolkata.

Pattern of Evasion Before Arrest

According to the agency, Bose was summoned multiple times for statement recording but consistently avoided appearances, citing various preoccupations to seek repeated adjournments. When he eventually appeared for questioning, investigators described his responses as evasive and noted a total lack of cooperation throughout the examination process. The ED characterised this pattern of non-compliance as a key factor leading to his arrest.

Luxury Flats and Cash Laundering Alleged

The ED alleged that Bose received multiple luxury flats directly as 'proceeds of crime' — assets purportedly handed over in exchange for facilitating appointments across several municipalities. Beyond the property angle, the agency alleged he accumulated cash through illegal means running into crores, which was subsequently routed through his purported business ventures to integrate it into the formal economy — a classic layering-and-integration money laundering pattern.

Scale and Reach of the Recruitment Scam

The investigation, which was initiated following a CBI FIR and directions from the Calcutta High Court, has uncovered what the ED describes as a deep-seated conspiracy involving the manipulation of OMR sheets and merit lists. The scam allegedly extended across numerous civic bodies including South Dum Dum, Baranagar, Halisahar, Kanchrapara, New Barrackpore, Kamarhati, Titagarh, and Dum Dum. Posts allegedly filled through illegal means ranged from clerks, teachers, and peons to sweepers, ambulance attendants, pump operators, and drivers.

Single Company at the Centre of Manipulation

Investigators alleged that recruitment-related contracts across multiple municipalities were awarded to a single firm — ABS Infozon Pvt Ltd, headed by one Ayan Sil. The company allegedly manipulated OMR sheets and merit lists to secure appointments for 'unmeritorious candidates' in exchange for money and other favours. Searches at premises linked to the scam led to the seizure of approximately ₹3.45 crore in cash, along with incriminating property documents and digital devices.

What Comes Next

With Bose in custody, the ED has indicated it is moving to identify other senior political functionaries allegedly involved in the recruitment racket. This case is part of a broader pattern of post-election scrutiny of civic body appointments in West Bengal, with multiple central agencies now active in the state. The Calcutta High Court's continued oversight adds a judicial layer that could accelerate further disclosures.