Ration ‘scam’ cost state exchequer Rs 400 crore : ED

The chargesheet mentions 12 names including Mallick and Kolkata-based businessman and rice mill owner Bakibur Rahman. “The chargesheet also mentions the name of 10 firms. Of these, five are linked to Mallick and the remaining to Rahman,” said an official.

ED arrested Mallick, who held the food and supplies portfolio between 2011 and 2021, on October 27 following marathon raids at his residence and seven other locations.

According to ED officials, ration meant for PDS beneficiaries was allegedly siphoned off by flour millers in connivance with distributors and other people in the supply chain. The proceeds from selling the ration in the open market were worth crores of rupees. The proceeds were deposited in the bank accounts of three shell firms under the garb of bogus share premiums and commission from foodgrain trading, said the agency.

The probe agency claimed that these companies were subsequently liquidated. These bogus firms had no real business and were used only for laundering the proceeds of crime, it added.

ED officials said that Mallick’s name cropped up after Rahman was questioned. Though Mallick was arrested, he is currently in hospital on health grounds. Rahman is in judicial custody.

According to sources, Mallick held frequent meetings with Rahman at his office and in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area. Rahman’s car used to accompany the minister’s convoy and he used to keep in touch with the ration dealers, said the ED.

The claims made by the ED stoked a war of words between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

The TMC claimed that ED’s claims were “to support BJP’s vindictive statements”. Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “The ED has submitted this chargesheet just to support BJP’s vindictive statements. It has no value. We don’t know what is inside. However, we believe if there was a scam and someone was involved, it should be investigated.”

Hitting back, the BJP said that the probe agency should try to arrest those “who received the money” from the alleged scam. “Ration and money meant for PDS beneficiaries was siphoned off. The entire money definitely didn’t go only to Jyoti Priya Mallick. Bakibur Rahman was just an agent who was used. It is important to arrest those who were at the top of the scam and received the money,” said BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar.