ED arrests West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested West Bengal minister Jyoti Priya Mallick in the early hours of Friday in connection with the alleged multi-crore ration distribution scam after raiding his two houses and three other places a day earlier.

Mallick served as the state’s food minister before he was allocated portfolios of public enterprises and industrial reconstruction and forests. “He was arrested around 3:20am after [about 20-hour] questioning,” said an ED officer.

As he was being taken to the ED’s office in Salt Lake after his arrest, Mallick said he was a victim of “a deep conspiracy”.

The ED earlier on October 14 arrested businessman Bakibur Rahaman, who is alleged to have sold in the open market rice and wheat meant to be supplied to ration distributors. ED officials said he has close links with Mallick.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday lashed out at ED while raids were being conducted. She said Mallick was not keeping well and had high sugar levels. Banerjee warned if he died, they would lodge a case against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ED.

She added ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Sultan Ahmed suffered a cardiac arrest and died after the Central Bureau of Investigation summoned him. “Wife of TMC MP Prasun Banerjee also died,” Banerjee said.

The BJP hit back calling Banerjee a liar. “She does not want an opposition that criticises her. She has allowed her nephew to run the government and she tries to shield the thieves of her party. Just like the way she did today,” said BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.