Is Jiban Krishna Saha Involved in Another PDS Scam?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jiban Krishna Saha is under informal investigation for possible PDS scam involvement.
- He was previously arrested for a separate school job case.
- ED officials are examining financial documents related to Saha.
- They have identified suspicious transactions linked to his bank accounts.
- Assets worth Rs 238 crore have been seized in the school job case.
Kolkata, Sep 6 (NationPress) Following specific leads, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an informal investigation to determine if Jiban Krishna Saha, the Trinamool Congress MLA who was apprehended last week, has connections to another suspected scam concerning the Public Distribution System (PDS) in West Bengal.
Saha, representing the ruling party from the Burwan Assembly constituency in Murshidabad district, was detained on August 25 related to the school job scandal and is currently under judicial custody.
According to sources familiar with the situation, suspicions regarding Saha’s potential role in the PDS case arose as ED investigators scrutinized documents linked to the legislator's bank accounts, properties, and assets of his close associates.
During this review, officials discovered Saha’s involvement in PDS distribution and rice mill operations.
Currently, the investigation revolves around two key inquiries: whether Saha invested illicit proceeds from the school job case into his ventures, and whether he has connections to the PDS case.
However, it is important to note that the latter aspect of the investigation is still informal and will be pursued more rigorously if concrete evidence emerges.
Saha claimed during questioning that the PDS distribution, rice milling, and cold storage businesses are family-run operations, with some being inherited.
Throughout the investigation, ED officials have identified numerous suspicious inward transactions into Saha's bank accounts, amounting to significant sums over time. The detained MLA has failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the origins of these funds.
Recently, the ED reported to a special court in Kolkata that they have seized assets valued at Rs 238 crore, including cash, jewelry, and real estate, in connection with the school job case.