Kolkata, May 6 (IANS) Former West Bengal ministers Sujit Bose and Rathin Ghosh on Wednesday informed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that they would not be able to appear before its officers for questioning in connection with the municipal recruitment corruption case.
The ED had summoned them to appear at its office at the CGO Complex in Salt Lake area of Kolkata on Wednesday. However, both separately informed the central agency that they were unable to appear before the investigating officers.
According to ED sources, Rathin Ghosh informed the agency that he suffered a leg injury after slipping in the toilet and had been advised complete rest by doctors for 10 days.
Meanwhile, Sujit Bose told the ED that several workers of his party had been affected by post-poll violence and that he was occupied in extending support to them. He sought a few more days’ time to appear before the agency’s officers.
Both the former ministers had earlier been summoned for questioning in the recruitment corruption case ahead of the West Bengal Assembly elections.
In fact, the ED had summoned former Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose several times in recent months. On almost every occasion, he wrote to the agency seeking additional time. He had also approached the court with a petition stating that he was occupied with election-related responsibilities and therefore could not attend the questioning.
Earlier, the bench of Justice Krishna Rao of the Calcutta High Court had observed that Sujit Bose would have to appear before the ED on May 1. Following the court’s direction, the former Trinamool Congress minister appeared before ED officials within the stipulated time.
After nearly nine hours of questioning, he left the ED office.
Meanwhile, Rathin Ghosh had also sought time from the ED earlier, citing election-related engagements.
He was summoned again to the ED office a day after the election results were declared. The ED had first questioned Rathin Ghosh in connection with the recruitment corruption case in October 2023, when his residence was also searched.
Rathin Ghosh contested as the Trinamool Congress candidate from Madhyamgram amid a strong BJP challenge in the constituency and eventually won by a margin of 2,399 votes.
However, Sujit Bose lost the Assembly election from the Bidhannagar constituency.
According to ED sources, fresh dates will be announced for the appearance of Rathin Ghosh and Sujit Bose.
–IANS
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