“Minister Jyotipriya Mallick Arrested Following Raids at Salt Lake Residence”
Amidst high drama and intense controversy, West Bengal’s Forest Affairs minister, Jyotipriya Mallick, a prominent figure in the Trinamool Congress, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) late on Thursday. This arrest follows a series of raids at the minister’s Salt Lake residence, located on the outskirts of Kolkata, conducted by the Central probe agency.
In an official statement, the ED revealed that Mallick is being held in connection with a purported corruption scandal related to the distribution of rations, sending shockwaves through West Bengal’s political landscape.
Expressing his shock and dismay as he was escorted away by ED officers, the minister vehemently claimed to be a “victim of a grave conspiracy.”
The ED’s searches revolve around alleged improprieties in the distribution of essential provisions. Formerly in charge of the Food and Civil Supplies department, Mallick currently serves as the state minister for Forest Affairs.
These developments have unleashed a fiery political battle, with West Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee, accusing the Central government of ‘misusing government agencies’ to ‘unleash vendetta’ and spread falsehoods about those who dare to challenge it. She even threatened to file an FIR against the BJP and the ED if any harm befalls Mallick, who is also diabetic.
This isn’t the first time the ED has cast a shadow on West Bengal’s political leaders. Earlier this year, former Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide, Arpita Mukherjee, were apprehended in connection with the teachers’ recruitment scam, following the discovery of substantial cash at the latter’s residence, further fueling the ongoing political turmoil in the state.