This Post Is Recently Updated on Oct 27, 2023 @ 7:34 am by TBB Desk
Excerpts
– West Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick arrested by ED over alleged ‘ration scam’.
– Mallick claims victim of a serious conspiracy; ED raids eight locations including his residence.
– Chief Minister Banerjee criticizes central agencies’ actions, threatens FIR against BJP and ED.
– BJP leaders demand Mallick’s arrest, highlighting a scam; Investigation ties to businessman Bakibur Rahman.
– Alleged corruption in public distribution system during Covid-19 pandemic also spotlighted.
Details
West Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick Arrested in Alleged Ration Scam, Claims Conspiracy
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested West Bengal Forest Minister and former Food Minister Jyotipriya Mallick post a 20-hour interrogation regarding an alleged ‘ration scam’. The arrest happened around 3:23 am on Friday. While being escorted by ED officials and CRPF personnel from his Salt Lake residence to the ED office in the CGO complex, Mallick claimed to be a victim of a serious conspiracy.
ED carried out raids at eight locations, including Mallick’s residence and those of his associates, in connection to purported corruption in ration distribution. The probe initiated early Thursday, focusing on two flats in Salt Lake reportedly owned by the Minister. ED is also investigating Mallick’s connections to businessman Bakibur Rahman, a recent arrestee in the case, who allegedly has several properties and businesses financed with over Rs 50 crore of questionable funds.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized the BJP-led Central Government and central agencies post the ED raids, alleging harassment of her party leaders post Durga Puja. Banerjee also questioned the selective targeting by central agencies and expressed concerns over Mallick’s health due to his existing diabetes condition, threatening to file an FIR against BJP and ED if any harm befell him.
In a response, BJP demanded Mallick’s arrest, with Leader of Opposition Suvendhu Adhikari and State President Sukanta Majumdar highlighting the long-standing association between Rahman and Mallick since 2012, alleging a significant scam.
West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed the corruption allegations, emphasizing the extent of the ration scam, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when food grains were allegedly siphoned off, even from school children’s mid-day meal quotas.
The raids continued on Thursday at the residences of several individuals purportedly close to Minister Mallick, unveiling an underbelly of alleged corruption within the public distribution system during the pandemic lockdown.
Earlier this year, another political figure, Partha Chatterjee along with his close aide Arpita Banerjee, was arrested by ED in a different ‘school jobs scam’.
