Municipalities Jobs Scam: CBI summons minister Sujit Bose on Aug 31

Bose said on Thursday, “I haven’t received a letter in this regard yet. If I get the summons, I will go (to join the probe).”

Claiming a “political conspiracy” behind the move, Bose said that even as he does not know on what charges he was summoned he is willing to cooperate with the investigation. “I am willing to answer any question. I was vice-chairman of a civic body (South Dum Dum Municipality in 2016). But I don’t know why they have called me. Strangely, I have been called on August 31, the day when the INDIA alliance is going to hold a meeting,” he said.

Recently, the central agency had conducted searches at several places as part of its probe into the alleged recruitment corruption in municipalities. It was claimed that several documents were recovered. Sources in the agency claimed that Bose has been summoned based on the seized documents.

The alleged irregularities in municipal recruitments came to the fore when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Kolkata-based builder Ayan Sheel on March 19 in connection with the school jobs scam. The ED claimed that OMR (answer) sheets of candidates for various posts in several municipalities were found at Ayan’s Salt Lake office during a search.

Ayan is believed to have told the investigators that he took a total of Rs 200 crore in exchange for securing jobs in municipalities.

The Calcutta High Court then ordered the CBI to investigate the alleged scam in the municipal hirings.

State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, “The ED and CBI should have summoned and initiated a probe against Sujit Bose much earlier keeping in mind the properties and money he has.”

Trinamool Congress senior leader Saugata Roy said, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee pointed this out yesterday only. The ED and CBI are being used for political purposes. They have no credibility.”