India's Enforcement Directorate files charges in medical procurement and municipal job scams

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Patna has filed a supplementary chargesheet against the proprietor of Balajee Enterprises and others for allegedly inflating prices and over‑ordering medicines, chemicals, machines and equipment for Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) during the 2008‑09 and 2009‑10 financial years. The agency says the irregularities caused a loss of roughly Rs 12.63 crore to the government, and it has attached movable and immovable assets worth about Rs 3.14 crore, later identifying additional proceeds of crime of Rs 3.01 crore.

In Kolkata, the ED submitted a 186‑page chargesheet naming former Bengal Fire and Emergency Services minister Sujit Bose, his son Samudra Bose and two corporate entities in a municipal recruitment scam estimated at Rs 250 crore. The probe alleges that Bose recommended 340 candidates for municipal posts, 284 of whom received appointments after paying average bribes of Rs 6 lakh each. Investigators claim Bose personally received about Rs 20 crore in illicit funds. The charges also cover former Director of the Directorate of Local Bodies Jyotishman Chattopadhyay for misuse of his position.