ED makes fourth arrest in ration distribution case; Local businessman detained

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made its fourth arrest in the ongoing investigation into the ration distribution case. Biswajit Das, a local businessman, was apprehended from his residence in Salt Lake by ED sleuths. Das, reportedly a close associate of Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Aadhya - who was previously arrested in the case, underwent extensive interrogation by ED officials throughout Tuesday night before being formally arrested on Wednesday morning.

Sources indicate that Das's arrest follows the detention of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallik and businessman Bakibur Rahman in connection with the same case. The trio, including Aadhya, is presently in judicial custody. ED's pursuit of Das stemmed from leads suggesting his involvement in converting proceeds from the alleged ration distribution scheme into foreign currencies, subsequently channeling them abroad via hawala routes, particularly to Dubai and Bangladesh. The decision to remand Das to ED custody was made during a hearing at a special court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in Kolkata, where the ED sought further interrogation to delve into the financial complexities of the case.