Kolkata, 14 July (H.S.): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned the wife and two sons of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Madan Mitra in connection with its investigation into the alleged municipal recruitment scam in West Bengal, official sources said on Tuesday.

According to ED sources, the three have been asked to appear before the agency next week after their names allegedly surfaced during the investigation into certain financial transactions linked to the case.

The latest development follows searches conducted by the ED at properties linked to Mitra in June. The agency had carried out simultaneous raids at seven locations across Kolkata and its adjoining areas, including his residences in Bhawanipur and Kalighat. Searches were also conducted at Dakshineswar, Santoshpur, Joka and Beleghata as part of the ongoing investigation.

Earlier, in October last year, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had also searched Mitra's residence in connection with the same case. The search operation lasted for nearly five hours.

The ED has already arrested former West Bengal minister Sujit Bose in the alleged municipal recruitment scam and has filed a chargesheet against him and his son, Samudra Bose. The agency has accused Sujit Bose of illegally recommending candidates for appointments in the South Dum Dum Municipality.

According to ED sources, the list of allegedly recommended candidates contains the names of around 150 job aspirants. Investigators suspect that proceeds of the alleged scam were routed through the bank accounts of those arrested. The agency estimates that the alleged municipal recruitment scam involved financial irregularities amounting to nearly ₹250 crore.

The investigation into the case is continuing, and the ED is examining financial records and transaction trails to identify the alleged beneficiaries and establish the flow of funds.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh