The Calcutta High Court has rejected former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose's bail plea in a money laundering case linked to the alleged South Dum Dum municipality recruitment scam [Sujit Bose v. Directorate of Enforcement]
Justice Tithankar Ghosh observed that Bose failed to meet the mandatory requirements for bail under Section 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Court also observed that no reasonable ground existed to believe that Bose was not guilty and was not likely to commit any other offence while on bail.
It added that he cannot be released merely because the prosecution’s complaint stands filed and that the trial court has taken cognizance in the matter.
"The Central Bureau of Investigation has also commenced further investigation after informing the Learned Special Court pursuant to receipt of information by the Enforcement Directorate. A vital stage of the investigation is in progress," the Court said in an order passed on October 13.
According to the ED, various illegal municipal recruitments were carried out on recommendations received from Bose and other "politically exposed persons".
Senior Advocate, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Bose, submitted that he always cooperated with the Enforcement Directorate whenever summoned and was only arrested three years after the registration of the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR).
He further argued that the delay in arrest itself negates any genuine requirement for custodial interrogation, apprehension of flight risk or possibility of tampering.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, appearing for the ED alleged that Bose had laundered almost ₹20.40 crore through various accounts, including through his own and his family members'.
It was also submitted that seized digital records, recruitment data, property transactions, cash deposits, shareholding arrangements and structured payments establish both generation and laundering of proceeds of crime by the accused.
Senior Advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Sabyasachi Banerjee with advocates Kuldeep Rai, Dhananjoy Kumar, Mihir Joshi, Aditya Singh Chauhan, Nahid Ahmed, Pragya Banerjee, Aishwariya Mishra appeared for the accused.
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, ASG Dhiraj Trivedi, Senior Advocate Zoheb Hossain along with advocates Adil Rashid, Samrat Goswami, Snigdha Ghosh, Aparna Sarkar, Aaryan Bansal and Shivam Singh represented the Enforcement Directorate.
[Read Order]