Enforcement Directorate Raids TMC Leaders’ Premises in Alleged Recruitment Scam Probe
In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently conducting raids at the residences of West Bengal Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose, along with other prominent TMC figures, in connection with an alleged civic body recruitment scam. The ED’s search and seizure operations extend to various parts of Kolkata and its outskirts, forming part of an ongoing investigation into suspected irregularities in recruitment processes within state-run schools in West Bengal. Among those targeted are TMC spokesperson Tapas Roy and former North Dum Dum Municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty, reflecting the scope of the probe.
The ED’s move follows its simultaneous raids on December 28 last year at nine locations in Kolkata, primarily in the Burrabazar area, Kakurgachi, and EM Bypass, as it delves deeper into the intricate web of the school recruitment scam. Sujit Bose, who also serves as the Minister of State for Fire and Emergency Services, had previously been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with alleged recruitment irregularities in the state’s municipalities. While Bose denied receiving any summons from the CBI, he asserted during a press conference that he would willingly cooperate if formally notified, attributing the investigation to a political conspiracy against him. Bose’s tenure as the vice-chairman of South Dum Dum Municipality from 2010 to 2021 is under scrutiny, particularly concerning the recruitment of around 250 individuals to the civic body during that period.
Both the CBI and ED have informed the Calcutta High Court about a potential link between the civic body recruitment scam and the West Bengal school recruitment scam, suggesting a broader nexus of irregularities in public appointments within the state. The unfolding events mark a critical juncture in the ongoing investigations, further intensifying the political landscape in West Bengal.
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