West Bengal Forest Minister Jyotpriya Mallick was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Friday morning in connection with a case of alleged corruption in ration distribution while he was serving as the state’s Food Minister.
‘I am a victim of a grave conspiracy. This is what I can say,’ said Mallick while he was being taken into custody by ED officials from his home in Kolkata’s Salt Lake at around 3:23 am. His arrest came after a 20-hour round of questioning. Officials of the ED arrived at the minister’s house early on Thursday at around 6:30 am. The ED has been conducting search operations since Thursday morning in two flats of the BC block, Salt Lake (BC 244 and BC 245), which reportedly belong to the Minister.
The ED raided a total of eight residences including that of Mallick and his associates in connection with the case.
The ED is investigating Mallick’s links to businessman Bakibur Rahman, who was recently arrested in the case, sources said.
The ED also conducted a search at the residence of Mallick’s personal assistant Amit Dey in Nagerbazar in the North 24 Paraganas district.
Rahman was arrested last week following an ED raid at his flat in Kaikhali that lasted more than 53 hours. According to ED sources, more than 100 documents with stamps of government offices were found in his flat. Rahman owns several hotels, resorts and bars besides his rice mill business. ED sources said that a preliminary investigation has shown that investments of more than Rs 50 crore were made in his companies.
In a press conference at her residence in Kalighat on Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister slammed BJP-led Central Government and Central agencies after ED started raids on eight places on Thursday including state forest minister Jyotipriya Mallick.
Mamata Banerjee alleged that her party leaders and ministers are harassing just after Durga Puja. She also alleged, central agencies are ransacking the house of their leaders saying, ‘they are tumbling down ghee-bottle, oil-bottle, taking pictures of sarees, cosmetics in the name of raids.’
Mamata Banerjee, ‘My question is why a single BJP leader’s house was not raided? Why a single BJP leader’s house was not raided? Why was only one BJP minister’s house raided? Why was only one BJP thief’s house not raided?’
She then added, ‘Lok Sabha election is due only after five months. Elections in five states are going on. The son of a Chief Minister’s house was raided. My question is, will the country run in this way? They are changing the law anytime. They are calling a standing committee meeting whenever they want. They are suddenly saying change the name India and start using Bharat. Why are you so scared? Now, what will you do if we start using the name Bharat instead of India or with India?’
She apprehended that, Forest Minister Jyotipriya Mullick’s physical comdition is not good. She said, ‘Balu (Jyotipriya Mullick) already has diabetes. His physical condition is also very bad. If he dies, I will file an FIR against BJP and ED.’
In reaction to the raid, BJP demanded his arrest. Leader of Opposition Suvendhu Adhikari claimed that Bakibur Rahman has known Minister Jyotipriya Mallick since 2012.
‘ Since 2012 Bakibur Rahman has known Jyotipriya Mallick. It is a very very big scam,’ said Adhikari.
‘ It is not surprising, the raid should have happened even before. Agency has found links of multiple crores rupees properties owned by Bakibur Rahman, it is open secret that in reality these properties belong to whom. A normal man grows into a millionaire how? The Central Agency shouldn’t limit itself to carrying out raids but should arrest him.’ said Sukanta Majumdar, BJP’s State President.
West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had earlier alleged that Rahman was operating with the help of senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and ministers. On Thursday during the raid Chowdhury in conversation with the media said, ‘ Ration Corruption is a big scam. From the Food Minister to Ration dealers, all are involved, even the police. But yes raids are routine these days. We all want a stern action and punishment against those involved but we are unfortunately not seeing anything like that.
‘Rahman is a key player in the siphoning of food grains. This scam reached a new height during the Covid-19 pandemic. Food grains were stolen even from the quota allotted for mid-day meals served to school children,’ said Chowdhury.
It has been alleged that there were several irregularities in the public distribution system (PDS) and massive corruption in the distribution of food grains in the state during the Covid-19 lockdown.
On Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the homes of few other people who are allegedly close to the Minister.
Earlier this year, Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Banerjee was arrested by ED in a ‘school jobs scam’.
