ED uncovers illicit networks in ration distribution scam during West Bengal raids

ED officials detected this during their day-long raid and search operations at ten places in two districts of West Bengal

ED officials detected this during their day-long raid and search operations at ten places in two districts of West Bengal
ED officials detected this during their day-long raid and search operations at ten places in two districts of West Bengal

Bengal ration distribution scam: ED tracks two more Shahjahan-like networks

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a network allegedly amassing wealth through illicit proceeds in a ration distribution scandal, akin to the case of Sheikh Shahjahan, the suspended Trinamool Congress leader from Sandeshkhali.

During a day-long operation on Tuesday, ED officials conducted raids and searches at ten locations across two districts in West Bengal. The investigation revealed extensive financial networks linked to the misappropriated ration funds. Sources confirmed the raids were part of a broader effort to dismantle these corrupt empires.

Incidentally, the native district for these two empires is also North 24 Parganas and both have very strong ruling party connections.

Sources said that one of the 10 places, where the ED official escorted by Central Armed Police Forces personnel raided, was the office of PG High Tech Rice Mill at Berachampa under Deganga community development block in North 24 Parganas.

Central agency investigations have uncovered that the entity in question is co-owned by brothers Alif Nur (Mukul) and Anisur Rahaman (Bidesh), with Bidesh serving as the Trinamool Congress’ Deganga block president. They are cousins of Bakibur Rahman, the first person arrested in the ration distribution case. The investigation also revealed that the brothers own a profitable private B.Ed & D.El.Ed College and Bidesh, who won the 2018 panchayat elections, is the PWD executive officer of Deganga panchayat samiti.

After the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, he became the ruling party’s Deganga block president.

“Raids by central agencies are regular affairs these days. However, we have extended full cooperation to the ED officials and handed them over all the documents that they sought. We will continue cooperating with the investigating officials in the coming days. They have seized my mobile phone,” Bidesh said.

The second empire that has been tracked by the ED officials is that of Abdul Barik Biswas, known to be a close aide of former state food and supplies minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the ration distribution case.

On Tuesday, the ED officials conducted raid and search operations at the residences of Biswas at Basirhat, Rajarhat, and Barasat, all in North 24 Parganas district. The investigating officials also recovered cash worth Rs.20 lakh from his Rajarhat residence.

Although not directly involved in politics, Abdul Barik Biswas has political connections through his family. His elder brother Ghulam served on the North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad from 2013 to 2018, succeeded by his wife Safiza Begum in the 2018 panchayat elections.

Biswas has a criminal past, including a customs arrest for gold smuggling, during which a gold consignment was seized. After serving time in prison and being released on bail, he has since launched various businesses, including a rice mill, cola trading, a brick kiln, and transport.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. PM Modi is leaving a lot of dirty work behind, for you to clean up.
    Remember, how often he reminded you of JL Nehru’s blunders in J&K.
    Mahatama Modi has practically done the same in W. Bengal but in a shorter period.

  2. Need to break Mumtaz Begum else it is going to be another Kashmir happening there & like to merge with China, with Mumtaz Begum becoming a Queen of merged Bengal China

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