A special court in Kolkata, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, has ordered former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose, from the previous Trinamool Congress regime, to remain in Enforcement Directorate custody until May 21. Bose was taken into custody by Enforcement Directorate officials on Monday night regarding the multi-crore cash-for-municipalities jobs case during the previous regime in West Bengal. He faced over 10 hours of questioning before being presented before the court on Tuesday.
Bose’s counsel filed a bail petition, arguing that his arrest in 2026, based on documents from 2022-2023, raised questions about the timing. However, the Enforcement Directorate opposed the bail plea, citing concerns about tampering with evidence and witness influence due to Bose’s political influence. The judge sided with the Enforcement Directorate, extending Bose’s custody till May 21.
A three-time Trinamool Congress legislator from Bidhannagar Assembly constituency, Bose lost in the recent elections. The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation into the municipalities’ job case stemmed from information discovered during a search at a Trinamool Congress-linked promoter’s residence in connection with a money laundering case. The Central Bureau of Investigation also initiated a parallel probe following a Calcutta High Court order.
