Kolkata, May 1 (IANS) After avoiding appearance at the Enforcement Directorate’s Salt Lake office in the northern outskirts of Kolkata to face questioning in relation to the multi-crore municipalities’ recruitment case in West Bengal, state Fire Services Minister Sujit Bose ultimately appeared at the ED’s office on Friday.

Before the recently concluded two-phase Assembly election for 294 constituencies, the ED had served notices for appearances to Bose to ask questions in the municipalities’ recruitment case.

However, he avoided appearing at the ED’s Salt Lake office three times on the grounds that he was busy with his campaign schedule for the polls. He even approached the Calcutta High Court for relief from appearing for integration.

Acting on his petition, the Calcutta High Court gave Bose a temporary relief from appearance for interrogation but maintained that his appearance at the ED’s office would be mandatory after the elections were over.

So, as per the directions of the Calcutta High Court in the matter, the minister finally appeared at the ED’s Salt Lake office in the morning. He was accompanied by his counsel while appearing at the central agency’s office.

However, they refused to answer the queries of the media persons waiting in front of the ED office.

Besides, Bose, the state Food & Supplies Minister Rathin Ghosh was also summoned by the ED for questioning in the same municipality’s recruitment case.

In October 2023, the ED questioned Ghosh in the municipal recruitment corruption case. A search was conducted at his house at that time. In January 2024 and October 2025, the ED conducted raids at Bose’s office and house. It also searched the addresses of some of his close associates.

Three-time Trinamool Congress MLA Bose is contesting the Assembly elections from Bidhannagar Assembly constituency in North 24 Parganas district, seeking his re-election. At the same time, Ghosh is contesting from the Madhyamgram constituency in the same district. Both the seats went to the polls in the second phase on April 29.

–IANS

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