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ED raids 9 Locations in Bengal PDS case
Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at multiple locations in Kolkata and nearby areas on Saturday as part of its ongoing probe into an alleged Public Distribution System (PDS) scam.
Officials said raids were conducted at around nine premises across Burdwan and Habra, targeting suppliers, exporters, and individuals linked to the case, including associates of Niranjan Chandra Saha. The agency also searched the residence of businessman Partha Sarathi in North 24 Parganas.
The action has been taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Officials confirmed that similar searches had been conducted earlier as part of the same investigation.
The raids come just days before the second phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for April 29. The first phase of voting was completed on April 23.
What is the PDS wheat scam?
The case is linked to a 2020 FIR filed by police in Basirhat following a complaint from a customs official at the Ghojadanga land customs station. It involves the alleged diversion of subsidised wheat meant for welfare schemes under the PDS.
According to investigators, the wheat was illegally sourced at lower prices through a network involving suppliers, distributors, dealers, and middlemen. The stock was then reportedly sold in the open market or exported for profit.
The ED also claims that the original identity of the wheat was concealed by removing markings from sacks belonging to the Food Corporation of India and the state government. The grain was then repackaged and presented as legitimate stock.
Several people have been arrested in connection with the case, including former West Bengal food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick.
The latest raids have drawn attention as they take place at a crucial time, just ahead of the next phase of polling in the state.
