ED questions Trinamool MLA Madan Mitra, searches his house in gold-for-jobs

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched at least six properties linked to Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra on Saturday over a gold-for-jobs scam.

It has been alleged that Mr. Mitra gave jobs to undeserving candidates in various municipalities in exchange for gold and cash. He reportedly collected the bribes through middlemen and gave postings in the civic bodies of Kamarhati and adjacent Titagarh. 

ED officials said searches were conducted through the day at Mr. Mitra’s residence in Bhabanipur, a flat in Joka, a five-storeyed apartment in Dakhineshwar, two clubs, and other places. They also questioned Mr. Mitra at his Bhabanipur residence.

The searches were conducted on the basis of leads from a businessman, Ayan Sil, who was arrested in 2023 in the same scam. 

On May 11, ED officials arrested former Minister Sujit Bose over similar allegations of illegal recruitment at the South Dum Dum Municipality. He is the only top leader who has gone behind bars after the regime change. Other top leaders such as party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and former Minister Aroop Biswas have been given temporary relief by the Calcutta High Court against coercive action by the police or Central agencies. While Mr. Banerjee is under the ED scanner for a school recruitment scam, Mr. Biswas is facing a police probe over the 2025 Lionel Messi event fiasco.

Third summons

On Satuday, Mr. Biswas got a third notice from the police asking him to appear for questioning within 48 hours. He had previously evaded two other notices and did not appear before the police. 

He was given relief by the Calcutta High Court against any coercive action but was asked to appear before the police within 48 hours of a fresh notice. He was also asked to submit his passport to the court. 

The police had filed the case against Mr. Biswas on a complaint filed by the organiser of the “G.O.A.T. India Tour”, Satadru Datta. He had accused Mr. Biswas of extortion, cheating, and misuse of political power at the December 2025 Lionel Messi event at the Salt Lake stadium. The event ended in massive chaos and vandalism, and led to major embarrassment for the ruling government on the international stage. 

Photos of Mr. Biswas holding the football legend by his waist went viral on social media as citizens, fans, and Opposition leaders came down heavily on the politician for his actions. This was criticised by Justice Saugata Bhattacharyya at the Calcutta High Court.