The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has once again ramped up its investigation into the ration distribution scam. On Wednesday morning, ED officials conducted raids at multiple locations, including Kolkata and Howrah, as part of their ongoing probe into alleged corruption. According to sources, the ED targeted a total of 14 locations in this simultaneous operation.
One of the key targets of the raid was a businessman from Bangur, Kolkata, identified as Mahendra Agarwal. ED officials are yet to clarify the exact link between Agarwal and the ration distribution scam, but his two properties in Bangur are currently under scrutiny, with documents being examined and the businessman being questioned.
In addition to Bangur, an ED team also raided the house of a ration dealer named Loknath Saha in Panchla, Howrah. After visiting his residence, officials proceeded to inspect his godown, which supplies food grains to several ration shops in the area. It is believed that this raid is part of the larger investigation into the alleged misappropriation of food supplies.
Notably, the ED had previously conducted similar raids in seven locations across West Bengal in September as part of this scam investigation. On September 28, the ED submitted an additional chargesheet, accusing individuals of misappropriating ₹1,000 crore in the ration distribution system. The new chargesheet included eight additional names, including Anisur Rahman, a TMC leader from Deganga, and his brother Alif Nur, aka Mukul Rahman, who were arrested in August. The chargesheet also named two other dealers and four companies with alleged connections to the Rahman brothers.