Panchu Roy Appears Before ED In West Bengal Municipal Jobs Scam Investigation
ED intensified its municipal recruitment scam probe after arresting former minister Sujit Bose in West Bengal.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Panchu Roy, former chairman of the Trinamool Congress-run South Dum Dum Municipality in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, in connection with the alleged multi-crore municipal recruitment scam. Roy appeared before the central agency’s office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, as investigators intensified their probe into alleged irregularities in municipal appointments across the state.
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Roy is expected to be questioned alongside former West Bengal Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose, who was arrested by the ED last week in the same case and remains in the agency’s custody. Bose’s arrest followed extensive interrogation and scrutiny of financial documents and records linked to alleged recruitment irregularities in the South Dum Dum Municipality.
Investigators suspect that illegal appointments were made in exchange for money during recruitment processes carried out under the municipality’s administration. Sources associated with the probe claimed that Bose allegedly recommended nearly 150 candidates for municipal jobs in return for cash payments. The ED is examining financial transactions, communication records, and other documentary evidence as part of its money laundering investigation connected to the alleged scam.
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Roy’s name had previously appeared in a charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is conducting a parallel inquiry into the recruitment case. This marked the second occasion on which Roy appeared before ED officials for questioning. During his earlier appearance, he denied all allegations of corruption and illegal recruitment, asserting that the summons issued to him were intended to harass him politically.
The alleged municipal recruitment scam first came to light during raids conducted by the ED at properties linked to businessman and promoter Ayan Shil, who was already under investigation in connection with the West Bengal school jobs scam and related money laundering activities. During the course of those searches, investigators reportedly uncovered documents and evidence pointing towards irregular appointments in several municipalities, prompting further scrutiny by central agencies.
Following these developments, the Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to conduct a separate investigation into municipal recruitment irregularities. As the probe expanded, several individuals associated with the Trinamool Congress and municipal administration came under the scanner. Sujit Bose, a three-time Trinamool Congress MLA from the Bidhannagar Assembly constituency, had also faced political setbacks after losing the recent West Bengal Assembly election, adding further attention to the ongoing investigation.
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