ED arrests former Bongaon municipality chairman Shankar Adhya in public distribution system case

The officials were in Sandeshkhali to raid Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence over the PDS case, where ration to be distributed through the public distribution system had been allegedly diverted, causing losses to beneficiaries and the government. Meanwhile, the ED arrested former Bongaon Municipality chairman Shankar Adhya early on Saturday in the PDS case after questioning him for 17 hours.

On Friday, three ED officers suffered injuries when a mob attacked them with “an intention to cause death”, the central investigative agency said in an FIR. Apart from the FIR lodged by the ED, two other FIRs were filed. One of these was against the miscreants who attacked the ED and media persons and the other was against the ED officials by the caretaker of Sheikh’s house for trying to conduct a search without a warrant, people in the know said.

In a statement, the ED said its officials were “badly attacked by crowds, suspected to be instigated by Sheikh and his associates”. The three ED officials who suffered grievous injuries were being treated at a hospital, it said, adding that other officers had to escape without conducting a search, to save their lives, “as the mob became very violent and even chased the officials”.

The ED started investigation in the alleged PDS case based on various FIRs registered by the Bengal Police against people who were allegedly found in unauthorised possession of PDS ration and involved in bogus procurement of paddy, it said.

According to the ED, as per the evidence collected, about 25.55% of total wheat flour required to be delivered to PDS distributors was siphoned off. During the investigation, proceeds of crime in the form of 101 immovable properties and ₹2.89 crore in the bank accounts were provisionally attached on December 12, the statement said. Former state food & supplies minister Jyoti Priya Mallick and a local businessman, Bakibur Rahaman, were arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and were currently in judicial custody, it said.