Kolkata, Feb 14 (Agency) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested one more accused in the alleged ration (public distribution system) scam, identified as Biswajit Das, a businessman. Das is said to be a close confidante of incarcerated TMC leader and former Bongaon (N 24 Parganas) municipality chairman Shankar Addya, official sources said. The federal investigation agency probing the money laundering aspect of the ration scandal following a Calcutta High Court directive on Tuesday raided at least eight places in Kolkata and its surrounding districts, including the house of Das at Salt Lake under Bidhannagar police station. The search operation went on day and night but Das was out of station that time. When he arrived at the city airport in the evening, the ED detained him and took him to his house.
After interrogating him for hours, the ED finally arrested Das on Wednesday morning, sources confirmed. The sources said the arrest was made after Das allegedly non-cooperated with the federal agency. The ED came to know that Das was a gold merchant and was involved in forex businesses and accused of investing fund in the business of Shankar Addya. The ED believed that some Rs 9000 to 10,000 crore was involved the ration distribution scam, which happened during Covid-19 period. The ED had already arrested former food minister and current forest minister Jyotir Priya Mallick, Addya and rice mill owner Bakibur Rahman. Das could be produced before a special court later on Wednesday or Thursday. He was the 4th accused arrested in the ration scam.