Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Judge Recuses From Sujit Bose Bail Case After Chamber Visit
A judge was deciding whether former minister Sujit Bose should be released on bail.
After hearing the case, Justice Suvra Ghosh decided not to give the final decision herself.
She said one of Bose’s lawyers visited her chamber while she was away.
The lawyer reportedly asked the judge’s secretary for a file about the case.
The judge called this unfortunate and told the acting chief justice.
Another judge will now be chosen to hear the case, possibly from the beginning.
Bose is in custody while the Enforcement Directorate investigates him.
The agency says he recommended around 150 people for municipal jobs and received money connected to those alleged actions.
Justice Suvra Ghosh recused herself from Sujit Bose’s bail case after completing the hearing.
Ghosh said Bose’s lawyer visited her chamber in her absence and requested a case-related file from her secretary.
The judge informed Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty before releasing the case from her court.
Bose, a former West Bengal fire services minister and Trinamool Congress leader, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on May 11.
The ED alleges Bose recommended about 150 municipal job candidates and received corruption proceeds through property and bank deposits.
- Who
- Justice Suvra Ghosh, former minister Sujit Bose, his lawyer, the Enforcement Directorate, and Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty.
- What
- Justice Ghosh recused herself from deciding Bose’s bail petition in the municipalities recruitment case.
- When
- The hearing concluded on August 17; the chamber visit was reported as occurring on August 18 or Tuesday, and the recusal was announced the following Wednesday. Bose was arrested on May 11.
- Where
- The Calcutta High Court; the alleged job recommendations concerned South Dum Dum Municipality.
- Why
- Justice Ghosh said Bose’s lawyer entered her chamber while she was absent and asked her personal secretary for a case-related file.
Bose’s Bail Position
Enforcement Directorate’s Allegations
Evidence and Chargesheets
Bose’s Bail Position
Bose’s lawyer argued that his name did not appear in two earlier chargesheets filed by the central agency.
Enforcement Directorate’s Allegations
The ED alleges Bose illegally recommended approximately 150 candidates for municipal jobs in exchange for financial benefits.
Money Trail
Bose’s Bail Position
Bose is seeking bail while challenging his arrest and denies, through his bail arguments, the basis for continued custody.
Enforcement Directorate’s Allegations
The ED says it traced alleged crime proceeds to flats acquired by Bose and large cash deposits in accounts controlled by him, including accounts linked to his family.
- Case
- Enforcement Directorate case linked to the multi-crore municipalities recruitment matter
- Applicant
- Sujit Bose, former West Bengal Fire Services Minister and former Trinamool Congress legislator
- Judge
- Justice Suvra Ghosh of the Calcutta High Court
- Arrest
- May 11; Bose remains in judicial custody
- Alleged recommendations
- The ED says about 150 candidates were recommended for posts at South Dum Dum Municipality
- Alleged proceeds
- The ED says it traced flats and substantial cash deposits linked to Bose and accounts under his control
- Next step
- The acting chief justice will assign the case to another bench, which may hear it afresh
