Bengal BJP’s anti-corruption drive faces questions of selective targeting

The West Bengal BJP government’s claims of exposing corruption under the previous Trinamool Congress regime have been more about political posturing than meaningful prosecution, suggests the course of investigations so far.

Since taking office in May, the BJP government has claimed to have blown the lid off financial irregularities across several departments dating back to the TMC’s 15-year rule, announcing a judicial commission, promising department-wise white papers, and backing investigations by central agencies.

It pointed to a series of investigations and arrests to highlight the scale of alleged corruption under the previous regime and its resolve to bring those responsible to book. These include cases involving municipal recruitment, the distribution of government relief materials, housing schemes and alleged irregularities at public institutions.

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But the action against some former TMC leaders, and the absence of comparable steps against others who have since moved away from Mamata Banerjee, have raised questions about the consistency of the crackdown.

Similar allegations, different treatment

The clearest examples of action against leaders who have remained with Mamata Banerjee’s TMC include former fire services minister Sujit Bose, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the municipal recruitment scam in May.

The agency subsequently filed a chargesheet against him, his son and others. Bose remains in judicial custody after the Calcutta High Court rejected his bail plea.

Former correctional services minister Ujjal Biswas and North Bengal development minister Udayan Guha were also arrested in June in separate cases involving alleged misappropriation of government relief materials and irregularities linked to the housing scheme.

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Biswas has since secured bail, while Guha faced judicial custody. Former tourism minister Indranil Sen was arrested in October over alleged financial irregularities involving the sale of Durga Puja preview-show passes.

BJP’s double standards

The treatment of some former ministers who have moved away from Mamata’s camp has, however, prompted questions from within the TMC.

Firhad Hakim, whose companies were searched by the state Anti-Institutional Corruption Commission in September, has not faced any follow-up action since.

Incidentally, Hakim has aligned himself with the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee.

Senior Mamata TMC leader Saugata Roy questioned why Hakim escaped arrest while other leaders were being pursued, alleging that the government was targeting those who remained with Mamata while sparing leaders in the rebel camp.

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Former minister Madan Mitra also moved to the Ritabrata-led faction after receiving ED notices in July in connection with an ongoing investigation. No substantive action has followed since he switched over, fuelling allegations of selective enforcement.

No progress in RG Kar case

The RG Kar case offers another illustration of the gap between the government’s claims and the progress made on the ground.

The gap is evident in both the rape-murder investigation and the separate probes into alleged corruption and attempts to cover up the crime.

The lack of tangible progress drew criticism from within the BJP, with the victim’s mother and party MLA Ratna Debnath expressing dissatisfaction with the CBI’s handling of the case.

While a Sealdah court convicted civic volunteer Sanjay Roy in January 2025, the victim’s family has maintained that the larger conspiracy behind the crime remains unresolved.

Mother, now BJP MLA, slams CBI

The CBI, which is investigating the alleged wider conspiracy surrounding the crime and its aftermath, submitted a report in a sealed cover to the Calcutta High Court on September 24, with the court scheduling further arguments for November 20.

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Debnath recently criticised the CBI’s handling of the investigation, saying her family had never sought a central probe. “If they cannot do the job, they should step aside,” she said.

She also said corruption in medical colleges had not declined despite the change of government, with the same people continuing to hold positions.

She questioned Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in his presence about why Narayan Swaroop Nigam continued as health secretary despite the change of government. She has also raised allegations against Nigam and questioned why no action had been taken against officials whose roles were under scrutiny

Corruption probe stalls

The separate investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the medical college and hospital also saw limited progress so far.

Former RG Kar principal Sandip Ghosh, who was arrested in the case involving alleged financial irregularities at the institution, was granted bail by the Supreme Court recently, citing his more than two years in custody and the slow progress of the trial.

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Only seven of the 147 witnesses had been examined, the court noted.

Doctors miffed

The slow pace of the trial also drew criticism from doctors associated with the RG Kar movement.

Dr Aniket Mahato, a prominent face of the junior doctors’ protests, accused the CBI of failing to pursue the case effectively, pointing out that it had examined only seven witnesses in two years.

He alleged that the prolonged proceedings had weakened the case, and questioned the new government's response, saying it had taken little action beyond suspending three IPS officers.

Ghosh’s bail order also drew criticism from the Opposition, with West Bengal Congress president Shubhankar Sarkar blaming investigative lapses by central agencies. “Sandip Ghosh securing bail is the result of laxity in the investigation by central agencies,” he alleged.

More selective targeting

The investigation into Sebaashray, a healthcare outreach programme launched by TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, also raised questions about the government’s intent and whether its actions reflect a selective approach.

Former TMC Rajya Sabha MP Santanu Sen, who played a key role in arranging doctors and overseeing the camps in Diamond Harbour and Nandigram, was named in a complaint alleging medical negligence. However, while the health department has begun questioning doctors associated with the initiative, there has been no visible action against Sen.

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He publicly welcomed the BJP government and Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari after the change of power, and subsequently joined the rebel TMC faction led by Ritabrata Banerjee, becoming its principal spokesperson.

Dubious probe into stone-sand syndicate

The Birbhum stone and sand syndicate investigation also raised questions about the extent of political patronage enjoyed by those allegedly involved and whether the probe would reach its logical conclusion.

Tulu Mondal, the alleged operator of the mining syndicate, remains untraced despite substantial cash and gold recoveries and the arrest of several associates. According to the state police, Mondal left India on May 23, shortly after the BJP government took office and more than two months before the FIR in the seizure case was registered.

His departure also raised questions about the police response and the progress of the investigation. The case also acquired a political dimension because of Mondal’s reported links to former Birbhum TMC chief Anubrata Mondal, who has since joined the Ritabrata-led rebel faction. Anubrata has, however, denied any close association with Tulu Mondal.