ED raids 15 locations, including Kolkata & Howrah, in ration scam case

Enforcement Directorate (ED) has significantly intensified its investigation into the multi-crore Public Distribution System (PDS) scam. On Friday morning, multiple teams of investigators launched coordinated raids at 15 locations across the state, including Kolkata, Bongaon, Murshidabad, and Howrah. The focus of this fresh offensive is a group of businessmen suspected of facilitating the smuggling of ration items and laundering the proceeds of the scam, which the agency estimates to be worth between ₹9,000 and ₹10,000 crore.

A primary target of Friday’s operation was the residence of a businessman identified as Basant Kumar Sharaf. Raids are going on at Kansas and Saraf, 8th floor of the Poddar Court, Minto Park area and at Lord Sinha Road, where the home and office of the alleged accused are located. According to ED sources, Sharaf’s name emerged during the interrogation of previously arrested suspects, suggesting a deep-rooted connection to the distribution irregularities. The agency is currently searching for evidence of influential links and trying to map the exact mechanism used to siphon off food grains meant for the public market. This renewed activity follows a history of high-profile arrests in the case, most notably that of former Food Minister Jyotipriya Mallick in 2023.

The political implications of the raids are immense, given that the TMC has re-fielded Jyotipriya Mallick, also known as 'Balu', from the Habra constituency. Mallick, who was granted bail in January 2025 after 14 months of incarceration, remains a central figure in the ruling party’s North 24 Parganas campaign. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has consistently defended him, claiming he is being framed in a "fake case" by central agencies at the behest of the BJP. She recently alleged that Mallick was actually the one who uncovered a legacy theft of 1.5 lakh fake ration cards created during the Left Front era.