"Happened on instructions of Bengal CM": Suvendu Adhikari on ration scam; TMC says 'BJP residing in hoax paradise'

"This is a big scam. Irregularities have been done here in the PDS system and paddy procurement. This involves not only rice mill owners but also bureaucrats and this has happened on the instructions of the CM. Rice mill owners have opened fake accounts and are taking money from the Centre," Suvendu Adhikari told ANI.

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress fired a quick rebuttal and said that the BJP has weaponized central agencies to attack the opposition adding that the arrest of the West Bengal minister is a tactics of the BJP to decrease TMC's influence in North 24 Parganas as Jyoti Priya Mallick is a MLA of Habra which lies under the district.

In a post on X, TMC said, "BJP Bengal is residing in a hoax paradise to assume their growing relevance in North 24 Parganas by weaponizing ED-CBI to arrest Jyotipriya Mallick. Their deplorable tactic to interfere and attack the non-BJP ruling states and misuse Central Investigating teams will be strongly revenged by the people of Bengal in the 2024 elections."

TMC further stated that the BJP is using Central agencies to carry out politically motivated raids.

"Why do investigations gain momentum as elections draw near and then conveniently taper off once the polls are over? Because BJP is misusing Central Agencies to pursue politically-motivated witch hunts against the opposition," the party said.

Earlier Bharatiya Janata Party leader Agnimitra Paul said that Mamata Banerjee needs to be interrogated too as she is the Chief Minister of the state.

"This was about to happen; we were waiting for it. A huge scam has happened and Mamata Banerjee needs to take responsibility for it. If Jyotipriya Mallick is being interrogated, Mamata Banerjee needs to be interrogated before that because she is the CM and under her, all these things happened. She didn't know? What is she there for? Ask her to resign and sit at home. But before you resign, you need to face interrogation. You knew everything," she said.

Jyotipriya Mallick was brought to ESI Hospital in Joka for a medical examination in the early hours of Friday.

The ED has been carrying out searches in connection with an alleged case of corruption in ration distribution. Mallick is currently the state minister for Forest Affairs and previously held the portfolio for the Food and Civil Supplies department.

West Bengal BJP President Sukanta Majumdar on Friday targeted Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the alleged case of corruption in PDS ration distribution.

"His arrest was certain. Mamata Banerjee sympathises with thieves. His arrest was certain because everyone already knew how smuggling of rations and food items was done. What Mamata Banerjee is saying is nothing new, she is the first to sit in a dharna to save the officer, and she has a lot of sympathy for the thieves," he said.

He further attacked the CM, Mamata Banerjee, over her statement that Jyotipriya Mallick has diabetes and said, "If he has diabetes, should we give him the responsibility for stealing?"

"Why is there so much fear? If there is no theft, then let the ED and CBI do their work, everything will be clear after the investigation," he added.

An Enforcement Directorate (ED) team late Thursday night arrested sitting West Bengal minister and Trinamool Congress leader, Jyotripriya Mallik, in connection with an alleged case of corruption in the public distribution system.

The arrest came a day after the ED conducted searches at Mallick's residence in Salt Lake, on the outskirts of Kolkata.

"I am the victim of a grave conspiracy," the arrested minister was heard telling media persons while he was being escorted out of his Salt Lake residence. (ANI)