ED conducts fresh raids in multiple locations in Kolkata over PDS Scam

Raids were conducted at the offices of arrested TMC leader Shankar Addya's forex offices in the Chowringhee, Collin Street and his Chartered Accountant Arvind Singh’s office in Salt Lake, sources said.

Addya, a former Chairman of the Bongaon municipality in North 24 Parganas, was arrested by the ED on January 6, after about 17 hours interrogation of him and search operations at his properties.

The federal agency, probing the money trails of the alleged ration scam following a Calcutta high court order, had sealed Addya's forex offices on the day of his arrest, sources said.

The agency, probing under the money laundering act, broke and opened the seal and began search operation, aided by armed Central forces.

The ED believed that money ranging about Rs 20,000 crore were transferred through the forex without following the prescribed norms.

Sources said ED's latest search operation at Addya;s forex offices were prompted as the agency is expected to present the incarcerated TMC leader before a special court on January 20.

Adhya, also known as a close associate of the arrested Food Minister Jyotirmoy Mallick.

The ED suspected that around Rs. 9,000 – 10,000 crore and out of that, Rs. 2000 crore were also suspected to be transferred to Dubai either directly or through Bangladesh.

" The ED initiated investigation in the PDS Scam on the basis of various FIRs registered by West Bengal Police wherein various private persons were allegedly found in unauthorized possession of PDS ration and involved in bogus procurement of paddy.

During ED investigation, it has been revealed that proceeds of crime were generated and shared among various persons by adopting various modus operandi." the central probe agency said in a statement last week.

The ED said during the investigation, it was revealed that such persons allegedly laundered the Proceeds of Crime (POC) using corporate identity of various companies, invested in acquisition of various immovable properties and also transferred part of said POC to certain companies under the control and beneficial ownership of former Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick.

" During further investigation, searches were conducted at various Full Fledged Money Changers (FFMC) companies and associated persons on January 5 last and relevant evidence was seized during the search.

The investigation carried out so far indicates that the magnitude of the scam is enormous, and the proceeds of crime received and further transferred and layered by one suspected person itself are suspected to be at-least to the tune of Rs. 9,000 – 10,000 Crore.

And out of that, Rs. 2000 Crore were also suspected to be transferred to Dubai either directly or through Bangladesh," the ED said.

(With UNI Inputs)