Kolkata, April 10 – Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have been conducting simultaneous raids and searches at 12 locations across different areas of West Bengal since Friday morning, in connection with the ration distribution case.
The locations where the ED raids and searches are being conducted include those in the state capital of Kolkata, as well as districts like North 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Howrah, which are adjacent to Kolkata, according to sources familiar with the development.
Among the locations being raided in Kolkata are the office of a businessman at the prime commercial building of Poddar Court in Central Kolkata, and the office of another businessman at Minto Park in South Kolkata.
Another team of ED officials is also conducting raids at the residence of the second businessman, located on the posh Lord Sinha Road in South Kolkata.
All the ED teams are being escorted by personnel from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
"Recently, a person was arrested in the ration distribution corruption case. After questioning him, the investigating officials of the ED, who are probing the Public Distribution System (PDS) case, came across the names of these businessmen. The raids and searches on Friday are based on this information," the source said.
To recall, the alleged ration distribution irregularities were first discovered in 2020, following the surfacing of information regarding corruption in the sale of 762 kilograms of flour meant to be distributed through the Public Distribution System, which was being sold illegally.
Further information emerged later that a major percentage of wheat meant for distribution through the PDS was diverted to the open market and sold at premium rates.
The ED officials took over the investigation. Subsequently, several people, including the former state food and supplies minister and former state forest minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, were arrested.
After spending over a year in prison, Mallick is currently out on bail and is even contesting the elections as a Trinamool Congress candidate.
Recently, the ED has been very active in West Bengal, in the run-up to the state assembly elections.
During the ongoing week, the ED officials conducted raids and searches at several locations in Kolkata in relation to an illegal land-grabbing-related money laundering case.