ED starts probe against ex-minister in Bengal ration distribution case

Kolkata: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a probe against the cash deposits linked to former Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is currently in judicial custody, in connection with the Bengal ration distribution case.

Sources said that it has come to the notice of the ED that during the financial year 2021-22, over Rs 6.50 crore were deposited in the bank accounts of a corporate entity, linked to the former minister Jyotipriya Mallick.

They said that Rs 1 crore was also deposited by Anisur Rahaman a.k.a Bidesh, Trinamool Congress Block President of Deganga in North 24 Parganas district, who is in ED custody along with his brother Alif Nur a.k.a. Mukul.

They added that the ED has information that this particular corporation was mainly a shell company meant for diversion of funds. The ED believes that the huge cash deposits made in the accounts of the company were essentially the ill-gotten proceeds of the ration distribution case.

Bidesh and Mukul are cousins of businessman Bakibur Rahaman, the first to be arrested by ED officials in the ration distribution case.

On Friday, the ED counsel informed a special court of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) that the rice mill jointly owned by Bidesh and Mukul received Rs 45 crore from the state government in phases to procure paddy from the farmers.

However, they subsequently showed procurement from “fake farmers” in the guise of the employees of the said mill.