In a significant development, West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose presented himself before the Enforcement Directorate on Friday, ending months of evasion in a high-stakes municipal jobs scam probe. Accusations point to systemic corruption in civic body recruitments, siphoning off millions through fake appointments and bribes.
The ED issued multiple summons to Bose, all ignored amid his election duties. A Calcutta High Court petition followed, yielding interim protection until after voting, but with a firm order to comply afterward. Accompanied by legal counsel, Bose entered the Salt Lake ED office silently, ignoring journalists clamoring for comments on the allegations.
Food Minister Rathin Ghosh faces similar heat, having been interrogated last October with raids on his home. Bose’s properties saw ED teams in January 2024 and as recently as October 2025, alongside checks on close aides. Both ministers hail from North 24 Parganas—Bose from Bidhannagar, Ghosh from Madhyamgram—where polls wrapped up on April 29.
Veteran TMC legislator Bose’s third term bid now hangs in balance amid this scrutiny. The scam exposes rot in West Bengal’s municipal hiring, involving forged documents and undue favors. As questioning proceeds, expect revelations that could ripple through the state’s political landscape, testing the government’s credibility on corruption.
With elections fresh, this ED action underscores federal agencies’ resolve against white-collar crimes, potentially altering voter sentiments and party dynamics.
