The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Jyotipriya Mallick, the sitting West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader, on Thursday in connection with an alleged corruption case related to the public distribution system.
This arrest followed a series of searches conducted at Mallick’s residence in Salt Lake, situated on the outskirts of Kolkata.
While the minister was being escorted away by ED officers, assisted by Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel, Mallick told the media gathered around him that he was the “victim of a grave conspiracy.”
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An official release from the agency confirmed the arrest, stating, “West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been arrested by the ED in connection with an alleged corruption case in ration distribution.”
Mallick, who presently holds the position of State Minister for Forest Affairs and previously oversaw the Food and Civil Supplies department, has been under scrutiny regarding alleged irregularities in the distribution of rations.
At the time of filing this report, the ruling Trinamool Congress, under the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had not issued an official response regarding the arrest of one of its ministers.’
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Earlier this year, the ED arrested former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and Chatterjee’s associate Arpita Mukherjee in connection with a scandal related to teacher recruitment, following the discovery of a substantial amount of cash at the latter’s residence.
Both are currently subjects of an investigation in the West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) recruitment case.
Furthermore, Anubrata Mondal, the TMC’s president for the Birbhum district, had previously faced arrest in connection with a case related to cattle smuggling.
Additionally, Abhishek Banerjee, the chief minister’s nephew and a TMC leader, has been summoned and questioned by the ED on multiple occasions in connection with an alleged ‘coal scam’ case.
(With inputs from ANI)
