ED begins forensic exam of Jyotipriya Mallick’s SSKM letter allegedly detailing ration scam money trail

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a forensic examination of a handwritten letter allegedly written by former West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick during his stay at SSKM Hospital in December 2023. Mallick, who is currently in judicial custody in connection with the ongoing investigation into the alleged ration distribution scam, reportedly addressed the letter to his daughter, Priyadarshini Mallick.

According to a statement from an ED official, the letter came to light when Central security personnel deployed at the hospital discovered it and submitted it to ED officers. The letter allegedly includes references to financial transactions related to the scam, mentions of black money, and names of certain influential individuals. Among those named is Shankar Adhya, also known as 'Daku', the former municipal head of Bongaon.

The ED has stated that the letter contains specific instructions on fund movements and details that are being treated as potentially significant to the investigation. The agency is now in the process of collecting handwriting samples of Jyotipriya Mallick to verify whether he was the actual author of the letter. A forensic analysis is being carried out to establish authorship with legal certainty.

The letter has been preserved as part of the official evidence in the case. The ED has not disclosed the complete contents of the letter but confirmed that the information within it may help identify further leads in the case. The agency maintains that the forensic authentication process is a standard investigative step aimed at verifying the document's origin.