Key Takeaways
- The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches in Kolkata in relation to alleged irregularities in ration distribution across West Bengal during the pandemic.
- Former state food minister Jyotirmoy Malick and several other officials and rice mill owners have been arrested in connection with the ration distribution scam.
- The Enforcement Directorate has filed a chargesheet in the case and is continuing its investigation.
Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate on Friday began search operations at seven places in Kolkata and neighbouring districts in relation to alleged irregularities in ration distribution across West Bengal during the pandemic, official sources said.
The latest raids by the federal agency came a day after its sleuths on Thursday searched multiple locations in relation to alleged financial scam in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and seized many incriminating documents, including answer sheets of exams taken by medical students from a house of the arrested former principal of hospital Sandip Ghosh, sources added.
A team of 40-50 ED officials, including women officers, conducted raids in multiple locations in Kolkata and surrounding areas, targeting employees of the food department and food inspectors.
Sources said the agency during investigations came to know that some food inspectors and senior officials in the food department were involved in ration distribution elsewhere instead of specified ration shops during the pandemic.
Former state food minister Jyotirmoy Malick and several other officials and rice mill owners have been arrested and the agency has already filed a chargesheet in the case, sources added.
