Kolkata, June 4: In a significant development in the high-profile municipal recruitment corruption case in West Bengal, former minister and TMC leader Sujit Bose, currently in judicial custody, has requested the court to grant him ‘Grade-1’ prisoner status. The hearing took place virtually in a special court on Thursday, where Bose was present.
During the proceedings, Bose’s lawyer appealed to the court for his client to be classified as a Grade-1 prisoner. This request follows similar appeals made by former Kolkata police officer Shantanu Sinha Biswas and businessman Jai Kamdar. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) strongly opposed this request.
Dheeraj Trivedi, Deputy Solicitor General representing the ED, informed the court that the investigation is progressing steadily. He mentioned that Nitai Dutta, the Deputy Mayor of South Dumdum Municipality and a close associate of Bose, has been summoned for questioning. Dutta has stated that he is receiving treatment in Hyderabad and will appear before the investigative agency later this month.
The ED also revealed that a list of candidates appointed during the investigation has been recovered, along with several digital devices that are currently under examination.
After the hearing, the ED’s lawyer stated that the agency has obtained crucial information and requires further questioning on several points. He alleged that despite repeated summons, some individuals are not cooperating with the investigation due to the influence of powerful figures.
Meanwhile, Bose’s lawyer claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) charge sheet does not mention his client. He argued that there is no reference to any financial transactions in the case, and Bose’s involvement has not been indicated in the statements of other accused individuals.
According to the ED, the investigation into the municipal recruitment scam has uncovered a list of approximately 150 candidates allegedly hired illegally in South Dumdum Municipality. The agency asserts that the money acquired through corruption has been deposited in various bank accounts, and the investigation is ongoing.
Sujit Bose was arrested on May 11. Prior to his arrest, searches were conducted at his residence, office, and the dhaba he operates. In the recent assembly elections, Bose, running as a TMC candidate from the Bidhannagar seat, was defeated by BJP’s Sharadwat Mukherjee by a margin of over 37,000 votes.
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