Kolkata, May 30: In a high-profile recruitment irregularity case in West Bengal, former Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose received no relief from the Kolkata High Court on Friday. The court denied an immediate hearing on his petition challenging his arrest, instead scheduling the case for a regular bench after the summer recess.
Currently, the High Court is on summer vacation. On Thursday, Bose’s lawyer filed a petition before Justice Shampa Dutta Paul of the vacation bench.
During the hearing on Friday, Bose’s lawyer argued that his client was not implicated in the municipal recruitment scandal, thus contesting the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) arrest.
However, Justice Shampa Dutta Paul stated that the regular bench would hear the case after the vacation, meaning no relief could be granted to the former minister at this time.
The court has instructed the ED to submit a detailed report regarding Sujit Bose’s arrest. Additionally, Bose’s lawyer has been asked to file an affidavit elaborating on their arguments.
Sujit Bose, a three-time MLA from the Bidhannagar constituency in North 24 Parganas, recently lost in the assembly elections. He was arrested by the ED on May 11 after nearly ten hours of questioning. The election results were announced on May 4.
Currently, Bose remains in ED custody. He is accused of accepting money in exchange for recommending ineligible candidates for various positions in the South Dumdum Municipality.
The ED claims that Bose facilitated the appointment of approximately 150 ineligible candidates, earning substantial sums in the process. Prior to his arrest, the agency also conducted searches at his residences and offices.
During its investigation, the ED uncovered alleged fraudulent financial transactions linked to Bose and his family members’ bank accounts.
The agency also revealed that during the COVID-19 lockdown, when a restaurant owned by Bose was entirely closed, millions of rupees were transacted through its accounts. According to the agency, ₹1.1 crore was transferred to the restaurant’s account, while ₹2.2 crore was moved to Bose’s personal account during the lockdown period.
These findings have also been presented before a special court in Kolkata under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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