The ongoing investigation by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) into the absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan in relation to the alleged Public Distribution System (PDS) scam began with raids at nearly six locations in West Bengal on Friday morning. The agency summoned Shahjahan again to participate in an investigation on February 29. These raids occur one day after that. Officials from the ED began the search early in the morning, accompanied by central troops. Two distinct raids were carried out by the federal agency last month in relation to the case at various locations on various dates.
Those places included the residence of Shahjahan’s residence in Sandeshkhali.
On one similar search operation conducted on January 5, the ED officials were attacked while on their way to carry out raids at Shahjahan and fellow TMC leader Shankar Adhya’s residences in the North 24 Parganas district. Nearly 200 locals, believed to be supporters of the TMC leader, encircled the officials and armed paramilitary forces then, preventing them from raiding Shahjahan’s residence. Two ED officials were injured in the incident.
The incident set off a political blame game in which leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party accused the state government of provoking the locals and questioned the state’s law and order situation, while the TMC accused the agency of inciting law enforcement. The incident prompted the Ministry of Home Affairs to request a thorough report on the attacks from the West Bengal government. The current raids are a part of an ongoing investigation into the state’s purported ration scam, and Jyotipriya Mallick, the former minister of food and civil supplies, is already detained. Mallick is still incarcerated after being detained in October 2023 in relation to the scam.
Shahjahan continues to evade capture, with both state police and Central agencies unable to locate him.
Recently, the Calcutta High Court instructed a collaborative Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and West Bengal Police to investigate an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali.
The SIT, consisting of personnel from both agencies, has been mandated to present its findings by February 12, as per the High Court’s directive.
