ED arrests ex-minister Sujit Bose after marathon questioning in recruitment scam

In a significant escalation of the municipal recruitment scam probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested senior Trinamool Congress leader and former Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose on Monday night, May 11, 2026. The arrest followed an intense 10.5-hour interrogation session at the agency's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake. Investigators reportedly sought approval from the ED headquarters in Delhi before formally placing the former minister under arrest, citing "significant inconsistencies" in his statements and a general lack of cooperation during the questioning.

Bose had arrived at the ED office around 10:30 AM accompanied by his son and legal counsel, responding to a summons related to alleged irregularities in civic body recruitments, particularly within the South Dum Dum municipality. This was his first appearance before the agency since the recent assembly election results, though he had been summoned multiple times previously. During the day-long session, officials seized Bose’s mobile phone and focused their inquiry on incriminating documents allegedly recovered from his residence during earlier searches.

The ED's case centers on an organized racket where illegal payments were reportedly made to secure government jobs across various municipalities. Sources indicate that Bose was unable to provide satisfactory explanations regarding his involvement or the financial transactions flagged by the agency. Following the formal arrest, the former minister was taken for a mandatory medical examination late Monday night, with plans to produce him before a special court on Tuesday to seek further custody.