Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Kolkata Zonal Office has provisionally attached various assets of book value of Rs. 50.47 Crore allegedly acquired out of Proceeds of Crime (PoC) derived and obtained from PDS Ration Scam by several persons including  Jyoti Priya Mallick (then Minister-In-Charge of Food and Supply Department. Govt. of West Bengal),  Bakibur Rahaman (rice and flour miller), Sankar Addhya and others. The market value of these properties is estimated to be significantly more than Rs. 150 Crore.

These assets include 48 immoveable properties of different persons and entities including residential house in Salt Lake, Bolpur of Jyoti Priya Mallick, several other ‘Benami Properties’ held in the name of his close associates, two Hotels of  Bakibur Rahaman each in Kolkata and Bengaluru and balances in various bank accounts and Fixed Deposits. It is also found that Jyoti Priya Mallick has allegedly received various immovable properties worth more than crores of rupees as ‘Gift’  without any consideration in the name of his family members or close associates, which have been provisionally attached under PMLA, 2002.

ED initiated investigation on the basis of various FIRs registered by West Bengal Police, wherein various private persons were found in unauthorized possession of Ration meant for delivery through PDS and also found to be involved in bogus procurement of paddy. During PMLA investigations, three important modus operandi were detected for generation of Proceeds of Crime (PoC) related to PDS scam viz siphoning of PDS ration to open market, mixing of old wheat flour in fresh flour meant for PDS distribution and bogus paddy procurement at MSP.

According to ED it is suspected that in the PDS scam PoC worth more than Rs. 10,000 Crore was generated. In this case  Bakibur Rahaman, Jyoti Priya Mallick,  Sankar Addhya and  Biswajit Das were arrested u/s 19 of PMLA, 2002 and all are at present in judicial custody. It is also revealed during the investigation that a huge amount of PoC was laundered to Dubai and other countries by converting INR into foreign currencies through Full Fledged Money Changer Companies owned/controlled by  Sankar Addhya,  Biswajit Das and others.

In this regard Prosecution Complaint was filed before the Hon’ble Special Court (PMLA ), Kolkata on December 12th 2023 and Supplementary Prosecution Complaint was filed on March 5th 2024. Cognizance of both the complaint has been taken by the  Court. Further, prayer has been made vide above complaints for confiscation of properties acquired / obtained from Proceeds of Crime (PoC) which includes 101 immovable properties and balance in several bank accounts.

Jyoti Priya Mallick Minister Of Food And Supply Department Government Of West Bengal Bakibur Rahaman Sankar Addhya Enforcement Directorate Directorate Of Enforcement ED PDS Ration Scam Salt Lake