Sujit Bose approaches SC after Calcutta HC rejects bail in ED money laundering case
Synopsis
Former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose's road to bail just got longer — the Supreme Court won't hear his challenge to the Calcutta High Court's rejection until after the Durga Puja vacation. The case is shadowed by a judicial recusal over an alleged improper file request, and Bose will miss the festival he personally organised for years at Kolkata's Sreebhumi Sporting Club.
Key Takeaways
Former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose has approached the Supreme Court after the Calcutta High Court rejected his bail on 13 October .
The apex court hearing will only take place after the Durga Puja vacation, keeping Bose in judicial custody through the festive period.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh dismissed both the bail plea and the defence argument that the ED had failed to substantiate charges.
In August , Justice Suvra Ghosh recused herself after alleging that a counsel for Bose had improperly attempted to access a case file from her chamber.
Bose was arrested by the ED on 11 May for allegedly recommending job seekers illegally in South Dum Dum Municipality .
Former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose has moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court's rejection of his bail plea in a money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The apex court hearing is not expected until after the Durga Puja vacation, meaning Bose will spend the festive season behind bars.
What the High Court Ruled
On 13 October, a single-judge bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court dismissed Bose's bail application. The court also rejected the defence argument that the former minister had been held in judicial custody unnecessarily, with the ED reportedly unable to substantiate its charges against him thus far.
The Recusal and Case History
The matter had a notable detour before reaching Justice Ghosh. In August, another single-judge bench — that of Justice Suvra Ghosh — recused herself from delivering a verdict, even though hearings before her had concluded. Justice Suvra Ghosh cited a deeply irregular incident: a counsel representing Bose had allegedly visited her chamber in her absence and asked her personal secretary to hand over a case-related file. She described the episode as 'extremely unfortunate' and informed then-Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty before announcing her recusal. The matter was subsequently transferred to Justice Tirthankar Ghosh's bench.
The Arrest and Allegations
Bose was arrested by ED officials on 11 May this year, accused of illegally recommending job seekers' names in the South Dum Dum Municipality — conduct prosecutors allege generated proceeds linked to money laundering. He has been in judicial custody since then. The defence has consistently maintained that the agency has failed to substantiate its core charges.
The Puja Connection and What Comes Next
Bose had long been the principal patron of the community Durga Puja organised by Sreebhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town on the northern outskirts of Kolkata — one of the city's most prominent festival celebrations. He had overseen its planning until last year; this year, he will be absent from the celebrations entirely. With the Supreme Court bench resuming after the Durga Puja vacation, his bail prospects will remain uncertain for at least several more days, making this a closely watched legal proceeding in West Bengal's ongoing political corruption cases.
Point of View
And it has received far less scrutiny than the bail outcome itself. That the ED has, according to defence counsel, yet to fully substantiate its charges after months of custody also raises legitimate due-process questions that courts will need to address directly. The Supreme Court's post-vacation hearing will be a test of whether the bail threshold applied by the High Court was legally sound or procedurally convenient.
NationPress
16 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Calcutta High Court reject Sujit Bose's bail plea?
On 13 October, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court dismissed Bose's bail application, also rejecting the defence's argument that he had been kept in judicial custody unnecessarily while the ED had failed to substantiate its charges. The court's detailed reasoning is being challenged before the Supreme Court.
Why did a Calcutta High Court judge recuse herself from the case?
Justice Suvra Ghosh recused herself in August after alleging that a counsel for Bose visited her chamber in her absence and asked her personal secretary to hand over a case-related file. She termed the incident 'extremely unfortunate', informed the then-Acting Chief Justice, and stepped away from the matter.
When was Sujit Bose arrested and what are the charges?
Bose was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 11 May this year on charges of money laundering. He is accused of illegally recommending job seekers' names in the South Dum Dum Municipality, with prosecutors alleging the conduct generated proceeds linked to money laundering.
When will the Supreme Court hear Sujit Bose's bail challenge?
The Supreme Court is scheduled to take up the matter only after the Durga Puja vacation. Until then, Bose will remain in judicial custody and will miss the festival celebrations.
What is Sujit Bose's connection to the Sreebhumi Sporting Club Durga Puja?
Bose was the principal patron of the community Durga Puja organised by Sreebhumi Sporting Club at Lake Town in northern Kolkata — one of the city's most prominent festival celebrations. He personally oversaw its planning until last year but will be unable to participate this year due to his continued detention.
