Searches Were Conducted At A Flat In Salt Lake
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is conducting fresh raids at six locations in Kolkata in connection with the alleged public distribution system (PDS) corruption scandal in West Bengal on Tuesday. Today’s raids are a part of the ongoing investigations by the federal agency in the state.
The searches were conducted at a flat in Salt Lake since 7 am, other than raids at five more places at Park Street, Russell Street, Baguihati, and Kaikhali area. The Central Force personnel are also accompanying the investigators of the Enforcement Directorate.
Notably, the ED has already arrested former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick, former Bangaon mayor Shankar Adhya, and businessman- rice mill owner Bakibur Rahman, who is known to be close to the minister and Shankar Adhya. The trio have been arrested in connection with the alleged scam.
According to the federal agency, Mallick used three shell companies for laundering the proceeds of the scam. In its submission in a court in Kolkata, the federal agency had claimed that the sanctioned ration for targeted PDS beneficiaries in West Bengal was “siphoned off in an unethical but organised manner”.
On February 13, officials of the Enforcement Directorate knocked at the specific house in IB Block, Salt Lake. A woman answered and opened the door and the investigators enquired about a certain Biswajit Das who is a businessman. Das was not at home, so the officials contacted him over the phone. They subsequently entered the house showing a ‘search warrant’.
Minor Argument Between ED Officials And Police
The local police arrived at the spot upon receiving information about the raid. Police officials of Bidhannagar South police station asked for a search warrant from ED officials for the raid being conducted. As per sources, this led to a minor argument between the two sides. However, the ED officials continued their official work of the raid inside the house.
It must be mentioned in this context that a manhunt is on for Trinamool Congress’ local leader Shahjahan Sheikh of Sandeshkhali in connection with the ration scam who remains at large.
After arresting the former Bangaon mayor, the Enforcement Directorate told the court that Shankar Adhya and his family owned more than 90 foreign exchange trading companies and INR 20,000 crore had been transacted abroad through those companies. The sleuths suspect that the money could be related to ration ‘corruption’.
The ED said they are in the process of collecting evidence and that out of the INR 20,000 crore, nearly half the amount belongs to Mallick, the former food minister of the state.
Bengali