West Bengal Ration Distribution Case: ED Raids Multiple Locations, Including Kolkata
West Bengal Ration Distribution Case: The Enforcement Directorate is showing rampant behavior in raiding different locations in West Bengal in connection with the Ration Distribution Case. As per the reports, ED raided as many as 14 locations on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, in connection with this hundreds of crores scam.
Key Takeaways
- ED conducted a spree of raids on Monday, October 21, 2024, in Kolkata and adjacent district Howrah.
- The teams of ED conducting raids in West Bengal were accompanied by the officials of CAPF (Central Armed Police Forces).
- Businessman Mahendra Agarwal’s two houses in South Kolkata were first raided by ED. The second location was the warehouse of the PDS (Public Distribution System) deal Loknath Saha.
- The ED’s probe revealed that the West Bengal public distribution fraud amounts to over Rs 10,000 crore.
Several teams of ED (Enforcement Directorate) reportedly conducted raids in different locations of West Bengal on Wednesday morning, October 23, 2024, in connection with the public distribution scam. Reportedly, each team of ED was escorted by Central Armed Police Forces officials. The spree of raid reportedly started with a raid at a businessman’s house. The personnel of the Enforcement Directorate knocked on the door of South Kolkata-based businessman Mahendra Agarwal’s house located in Bangur on Wednesday morning. In connection with the ration distribution scam, Mahendra Agarwal was interrogated for several hours. Furthermore, the ED’s report claimed that Mahendra Agarwal owns two houses in the Bangur area. Therefore, ED conducted raids at both of his houses.
It was not only Mahendra Agarwal who was shocked to see ED officials along with CAPF personnel at his home on Wednesday morning but also PDS dealer Loknath Saha was also stunned to see them at his premises. After conducting a raid at Mahendra Agarwal’s house, the officials reached ration dealer Loknath Saha’s house in Panchla from there they went to the PDS dealer’s godown or warehouse. Sources reported that this raid was also in connection with the West Bengal Ration Distribution scam. Besides this, a team of ED also reached the warehouse of the ration dealer Batkrishna Ghosh who is from Uluberia town in North Jagdishpur. As mentioned, on Wednesday ED conducted as many as 14 locations in connection with the same matter, the officials also conducted a raid on the officer of Jagatballabpur Cooperative Agriculture Development Society.
In North 24 Parganas, the ED officials also reached a ration warehouse located in Gaighata. The other locations where the ED is conducting raid and search operations are primarily the homes and shops of different public distribution system dealers. Furthermore, all the PDS dealers who were attacked by ED on Wednesday, are said to be under the custody of the ED as they are subject to be interrogated in connection with the ration distribution case.
Indicating the seriousness of the matter, a report submitted by ED claimed that the West Bengal Public Distribution Scam amounts to more than Rs 10,000 crore and the proceeds of the scam were transferred secretly to Dubai and other countries by Jyoti Priya Mallick who is the prime accused in this case. For the uninitiated, Jyoti Priya Mallick is the former food minister of West Bengal. Last month, ED submitted a charge sheet in court, which cited eight new names as the prime suspect in the scam. Two of the eight new names in the case were Trinamool Congress leaders Anisur Rahaman from Deganga in North 24 Parganas district and his brother Mukul Rahaman.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- ED claims to have proof joining connection between the Rahaman brothers and former state food and supplies minister Jyoti Priya Mallick.
- Former state minister Jyoti Priya Mallick is currently in judicial custody.
- A minimum of 60 small ration dealers have been identified for their alleged involvement in the ration distribution scam.
