ED Submits New Supplementary Charge Sheet in Bengal PDS Case
Click to start listening
Synopsis
The Enforcement Directorate has filed a new supplementary charge sheet in the West Bengal ration distribution case, naming key individuals involved in financial irregularities. This marks the fifth charge sheet in an ongoing investigation into alleged corruption.
Key Takeaways
- ED files fifth supplementary charge sheet.
- New names include Santantu Bhattacharya, Subrata Ghosh, and Hitesh Chandak.
- Jyotipriya Mallick was previously arrested but released on bail.
- Raids conducted across multiple locations in West Bengal.
- Investigation reveals dual profit schemes of cooperatives.
Kolkata, Feb 24 (NationPress) On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) submitted a new supplementary charge sheet in the extensive ration distribution scandal in West Bengal.
This marks the fifth supplementary charge sheet presented by the central agency at the special court handling the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in Kolkata.
According to sources, the latest charge sheet identifies Santantu Bhattacharya, the personal chartered accountant of former state Food and Supplies Minister Jyotipriya Mallick.
Mallick was taken into custody by the ED two years ago due to allegations related to the ration distribution scandal. However, he was granted bail by the special PMLA court last month.
The fifth supplementary charge sheet also names two additional individuals, Subrata Ghosh and Hitesh Chandak, both of whom are rice mill proprietors.
Sources further indicated that the ED's new charge sheet elaborates on how the illicit funds from the ration distribution case were funneled through the bank accounts of those mentioned in the document.
Previously, ED officials asserted that Bhattacharya played a crucial role in the financial manipulations associated with the former Minister's accounts. The latest charge sheet reportedly includes detailed information on the ongoing investigation.
This month, the ED conducted extensive raids and search operations at three sites in West Bengal, specifically in Shyampur and Jagatballavpur in the Howrah district, as well as Santoshpur in the South 24 Parganas district, in relation to the ration distribution case.
One of the locations raided was the residence of a local businessman who oversees a cooperative society responsible for acquiring food grains directly from farmers.
Throughout the investigation, the ED has scrutinized several cooperatives that profited in dual ways: first, by buying food grains from farmers at prices below the minimum support price, and second, by selling a portion of the grains at inflated prices in open markets instead of supplying them to the state’s food and supplies department for public distribution.
