Arrested Bengal Forest & Industries Minister Jyotipriya Mallick Removed From Post: Governor Bose
The move comes amid ongoing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the alleged public distribution system (PDS) corruption scam in West Bengal.
West Bengal Forest and Industries Minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, has been relieved from his duties, according to an announcement from Raj Bhavan on Friday. The decision was made by Governor CV Ananda Bose, who has assigned the responsibilities to Partha Bhowmick and Birbaha Hansda on the advice of the Chief Minister, news agency ANI reported.
West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose relieves Jyoti Priya Mallick, Minister in Charge, Department of Forests and Department of Public Enterprises and Industrial Reconstruction of his duties as Minister with immediate effect and reallocates the Departments to Partha Bhowmick and…
— ANI (@ANI) February 16, 2024
The development comes amid ongoing investigations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the alleged public distribution system (PDS) corruption scam in West Bengal. Fresh raids were conducted at six locations in Kolkata, including Salt Lake, Park Street, Russell Street, Baguihati, and Kaikhali areas.
During the raids, dramatic moments unfolded at a businessman's house in IB Block, Salt Lake, where an argument erupted between local police and ED officials. In Baguihati, a businessman threw his mobile phones from the seventh floor in an attempt to obstruct the investigation.
Jyotipriya Mallick, along with former Bangaon mayor Shankar Adhya and businessman Bakibur Rahman, has already been arrested in connection with the PDS corruption case. The ED alleges that Mallick used three shell companies for money laundering related to the scam.
The central agency claims that the ration meant for targeted PDS beneficiaries in West Bengal was systematically misappropriated. Meanwhile, the ED is conducting a manhunt for influential Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh of Sandeshkhali, who is at large.
Following the arrest of the former Bangaon mayor, the ED informed the court about the ownership of over 90 foreign exchange trading companies by Shankar Adhya and his family. Transactions amounting to Rs 20,000 crore were allegedly conducted abroad through these companies, with suspicions that the money could be linked to the ration corruption.
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