Arrest of Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick sparks political row in West Bengal
The Hindu
The arrest of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 27 over an alleged public distribution system (PDS) scam has sparked a political row and raised questions on what the irregularities are.
The arrest of West Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 27 over an alleged public distribution system (PDS) scam has sparked a political row and raised questions on what the irregularities are.
The ED, in a prosecution complaint filed before a court in Kolkata, mentions cash transactions worth crores of rupees into the accounts of family members of the arrested Minister, three fake companies and a “maroon colour diary” with details of financial transactions with the Minister. “It is worth mentioning that as per the election affidavit of Sh. Jyoti Priya Mallick for WB Assembly Elections, 2016, filed on 04.04.2016, he declared that cash in hand for spouse was ₹45,000. However, within span of one year, a total cash of ₹6 crore was deposited in her bank account,” the ED complaint said.
The document seeking remand of Mr. Mallick was filed before a special court dealing with cases under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
After the court pronounced that the Minister would remain in custody till November 6, Mr. Mallick fell unconscious in the court and had to be admitted to a hospital. According to the court, the period of hospitalisation will be excluded from the remand period.
Seeking the custody of Mr. Mallick, the ED said that he was Minister in-charge of the State’s Food and Supplies Department, West Bengal, when the irregularities took place and the proceeds of the crime were received. Mr. Mallick, who is the presently the Forest Minister, held the Food and Supplies portfolio from 2011 to 2021.
In the documents produced before the court, the ED has referred to three fake companies – Sharda Arts Private Limited, Sharda Films Private Limited and Shree Hanuman Realcom Private Limited.
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