On Friday, a task force from the Enforcement Directorate conducted extensive searches across West Bengal in relation to a municipal jobs scam that allegedly transpired across various civic bodies between 2014 and 2018.
The premises of Tapas Roy at 105 BB Ganguly Street are being raided. Besides, the premises of Subodh Chakraborty, ex-Chairman, North Dum Dum, Municipality, Khalisakotapally, Birati, are also being raided.
The investigation focused on two locations associated with Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose, alongside one each linked to Trinamool MLA Tapas Roy and a former vice-chairman of the municipality. Commencing at nearly 6.40 am, the searches aimed to unearth evidence related to the alleged irregularities.
In April 2023, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to scrutinize the discrepancies in municipal recruitments, setting the stage for a comprehensive investigation by both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These agencies are meticulously examining the recruitment processes undertaken by civic bodies during the specified period.
The investigative tempo intensified on June 7 when the CBI conducted raids at 16 locations, seizing crucial documents from multiple civic bodies in Nadia, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas districts, as well as the Salt Lake municipality.
In a subsequent development, the Supreme Court, in August 2023, dismissed a petition filed by the West Bengal government challenging the CBI’s authority to probe the case. This legal affirmation strengthened the ongoing investigation into the alleged municipal jobs scam.
On October 5, the Enforcement Directorate extended its search operation to multiple locations, including the residence of Food and Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh. These collective efforts underscore a commitment to unraveling the complexities of the recruitment case and addressing any irregularities that may have occurred within the civic bodies during the specified timeframe.