His move appears to have come as a big blow to the ruling Trinamool Congress, embroiled in controversy over its role in the multi-crore ponzi scam.
The Central Bureau of Investigation had arrested Bose, editor and one of the owners of Bengali daily 'Sambad Pratidin' on November 20 last year for his alleged complicity in the Saradha scam. But it failed to file a charge sheet within the stipulated time.
“During my days in custody, I finally realised that politics is not my cup of tea. There was a lot of pressure from my family, especially from my mother and wife, which finally made me take this decision," Bose said in a statement.
Reacting to his resignation, the Trinamool Congress alleged that Bose was 'under tremendous pressure' of the BJP.
“We have been saying for some time now that he has been put under tremendous pressure by the party in power at the Centre. He was released on bail yesterday. He resigned today. Did this pressure lead to some coordination? We are happy that he got “freedom” yesterday,” Trinamool spokesperson Derek O’Brien said in a statement updated on the party’s official website.
TMC chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee earlier alleged that the BJP was trying to split her party by putting enormous pressure on the leaders through CBI.
The party is already jittery over the possible outcome of questioning of its all India general secretary Mukul Roy by the CBI especially after his assurance of 'full cooperation' to the central agency.
Bose was accused of striking a deal between his newspaper and Saradha group's Channel 10. Under this deal, Saradha chief Sudipta Sen is said to have paid Bose's newspaper Rs 60 lakh per month for over one-and-a-half years.
On Wednesday an additional district sessions judge at Alipore granted him conditional bail on grounds on grounds that charge-sheet was not filed against him within the stipulated time.
The court earlier directed Bose not to leave the country without its permission and cooperate with CBI in connection with the probe.
He is the first senior Trinamool Congress leader to be granted bail in the Saradha scam. Trinamool Congress leader and state Transport Minister Madan Mitra, party's suspended member and Rajya Sabha MP Kunal Ghosh and former DG of police Rajat Majumder, who later turned into a Trinamool functionary are also under arrest in connection with the multi-crore scam.
The Trinamool Congress said it would soon announce the name of a member to replace Bose in the Rajya Sabha.
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