ED seizes ₹3 crore in Kolkata municipal recruitment scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized ₹3 crore during searches at several locations in and around Kolkata in connection with the municipal recruitment scam, the agency said on Thursday.

“ED, Kolkata Zonal Office has conducted a search operation at seven places on 28-29.10.2025 in and around Kolkata in the municipality recruitment scam.... During the searches, various incriminating documents including property documents, digital devices and cash amounting to ₹3 crore (approx.) have been seized,” the agency said in a press statement.

Photographs of the seized cash were shared by the ED on social media. Investigators said the searches revealed a modus operandi whereby tainted money belonging to the main suspects and accused in the scam was laundered through companies and firms under the guise of bogus services.

The statement added that the premises covered during the searches included offices and residences of associates of the main suspects and accused in the case. “Premises of Radiant Enterprise Pvt. Ltd., Garodia Securities Ltd., Jeet Construction and Consultants etc. were searched along with the residences of the promoters/directors of these companies/firms,” the agency said.

On October 10, the ED had conducted searches at 13 locations, including the office of West Bengal’s Minister of Fire and Emergency Services, Sujit Bose, MLA, during which “incriminating documents and cash of ₹45 lakh were seized,” according to the agency.

The investigation was initiated on the basis of an FIR registered by the CBI following directions from the Calcutta High Court. The ED said the probe into the primary teachers’ recruitment scam in 2023 had earlier led to the recovery of incriminating documents and digital evidence from one of the accused, Ayan Sil.

“The scrutiny of the incriminating documents has revealed that the scam is not only limited to recruitment of the teachers but also covers several other appointments by various municipalities,” the agency said.

The illegally conducted recruitments reportedly involved appointments for mazdoors, sweepers, clerks, peons, ambulance attendants, assistant mistries, pump operators, helpers, sanitary assistants, and drivers in several municipalities in North 24 Parganas district.

“ED has already filed a prosecution complaint in the case against Ayan Sil before the Hon’ble Special Court, Kolkata. ED had earlier also conducted searches at the premises of various functionaries of municipalities, and at the residential premises of Sujit Bose, MLA, and Rathin Ghosh, MLA and Minister of Food & Supplies, West Bengal,” the statement added.