Kolkata | The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a second prosecution complaint (chargesheet) before a special PMLA court in Kolkata in connection with the alleged West Bengal municipal recruitment scam. The agency has accused former West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sujit Bose of laundering proceeds of crime by investing them in a restaurant, bar, banquet businesses and real estate properties.
The prosecution complaint, filed on July 9, names Sujit Bose, his son Samudra Bose, former IAS officer Jyotishman Chattopadhyay, and several others as accused. The ED arrested Sujit Bose in May 2026, and he is currently in judicial custody at a Kolkata prison.
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According to the ED, while serving as the Vice-Chairman of the South Dumdum Municipality, Sujit Bose allegedly made illegal recommendations for the appointment of 340 candidates between 2014 and 2022, of whom 284 were ultimately recruited. The agency claims that money allegedly collected from these illegal appointments was projected as legitimate cash sales through his proprietorship business, Chinese Quisine Restaurant. Investigators further alleged that substantial cash deposits were made into the restaurant’s bank accounts even during the COVID-19 lockdown, despite limited business operations.
The chargesheet alleges that funds routed through the restaurant were subsequently used to finance and expand hospitality businesses operated through Shree Venkatesh Banquets and Speciality Dhaba LLP, including Bengal Dhaba and The Bar & Lounge. According to the ED, these entities received capital contributions and unsecured loans funded by the alleged proceeds of crime. The agency further alleges that additional funds for acquiring properties were arranged through shell companies and individuals, with the transactions later disguised through inflated and fictitious cash sales.
The ED has also alleged that Sujit Bose received multiple residential flats as direct proceeds of crime in exchange for securing jobs for certain individuals. According to the agency, he compromised the integrity of the recruitment process in the South Dumdum Municipality by facilitating illegal appointments in return for financial benefits.
Former IAS officer Jyotishman Chattopadhyay has also been accused of abusing his official position to facilitate and regularise alleged illegal appointments in several municipalities, particularly South Dumdum Municipality, in violation of the prescribed recruitment procedure. The ED alleges that he approved a proposal for 29 additional appointments despite the absence of mandatory supporting documents required under government guidelines.
This is the second chargesheet filed in the case. The first prosecution complaint was submitted in February 2025 against Ayan Sil, whose company ABS Infozon was responsible for printing question papers, OMR sheets, evaluating answer sheets and preparing merit lists for recruitment examinations conducted by various municipal bodies in the state.
Sujit Bose has denied all allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the recruitment process. The matter is currently pending before the special PMLA court, and the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
