Kolkata, May 18: Panchu Roy, the former chairman of the South Dum Dum municipality in West Bengal, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, on Monday. He was questioned regarding a cash-for-jobs scam linked to municipal employment.
Sources indicate that the ED arrested Sujit Bose, the former fire services minister of West Bengal, last week in connection with this case. Bose is currently in the custody of the central agency.
Bose’s name emerged during the investigation into irregularities in municipal recruitment. After extensive questioning and a thorough review of documents and financial records, ED officials apprehended him.
Investigators have uncovered evidence suggesting that Bose recommended at least 150 candidates for municipal positions in exchange for money.
Panchu Roy’s name also appeared in a charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel investigation into the municipal recruitment scam alongside the ED.
This marks the second time Panchu Roy has appeared before ED officials regarding this matter. During his previous appearance, he denied any involvement in corruption or illegal recruitment activities, claiming that the summons was merely an attempt to harass him.
The ED first became aware of the municipal job scam while investigating a school job scam and related money laundering activities linked to promoter Ayan Seal, associated with the Trinamool Congress.
Subsequently, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to initiate a separate investigation into the municipal recruitment case. As the inquiry progressed, more names related to recruitment irregularities came under scrutiny.
Sujit Bose, who has served three terms as a Trinamool Congress MLA from the Bidhannagar constituency in North 24 Parganas, lost in the recent West Bengal assembly elections last month.
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