Kolkata, Nov 11 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) probing the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal has got specific information about Bakibur Rahaman, the Kolkata-based businessman arrested in connection with the case, extending huge unsecured and interest-free loans to the wife and daughter of state minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is also in ED custody in connection with the same case.

Sources said that as per information available with the central agency, the loan extended by Rahaman to the minister’s daughter was to the tune of Rs 9 crore and the entire amount was unsecured and interest-free.

The loan was extended during the 2016-18, when Mallick was the Food & Supplies Minister. Currently, he is the Forest Minister.

The ED on Saturday approached a special court in Kolkata seeking permission to question Rahaman at the Presidency Jail where he is serving judicial custody, to which the court agreed. Rahaman's judicial custody ends on November 22.

Sources said that the central agency wants to question him on his compulsion to extend such a huge amount of unsecured and interest-free loan to the minister’s wife and daughter.

The ED wants to conform whether there was any kind of influential pressure on the arrested businessman to extend such huge loans.

Political observers feel that in the wake of the fresh evidence secured by the ED, the minister’s earlier claims of not knowing Rahaman at all has been demolished totally.

Besides being accused of selling flour meant for public distribution system (PDS) in the open market, especially to certain packaged-flour marketing entities, Rahaman is also accused of procuring paddy from farmers below the minimum support price by floating a fake farmers' cooperative and selling the same paddy at prices above the minimum support price.

--IANS

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Sumanta Ray Chaudhuri

18:13 (45 minutes ago)

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Businessman arrested in ration distribution case gave huge interest-free loan to Mallick’s wife, daughter: ED

Kolkata, Nov 11 (IANS): Enforcement Directorate (ED) sleuths probing the multi- crore ration distribution case in West Bengal has got specific information about Bakibur Rahaman, the Kolkata- based businessman arrested in the case, extended huge unsecured and interest- free loans to the wife and daughter of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mallick, who is also in ED custody now in relation the case.

Sources said that as per information available with the central agency sleuths, the loan extended by Rahaman to the minister’s daughter was to the tune of Rs 9 crore and the entire loan amount was unsecured and interest-free. The loan was extended during the financial year 2016-18, when Mallick was the erstwhile state food & supplies minister. Currently, he is the state food minister

ED on Saturday has approached a special court in Kolkata for permission to question Rahaman at the Presidency Central Correctional Home in South Kolkata where he is serving his judicial custody. The court had allowed ED sleuths to question Rahaman at the correctional home. His current judicial custody is till November 22, when he will be presented at the special court again.

Sources said that the central agency sleuths want to question him on his compulsion to extend such a huge amount of unsecured and interest free loan to the minister’s wife and daughter. The ED sleuths want to confirm whether there was any kind of influential pressure on the arrested businessman to extend such huge loans.

Observers feel that in wake of the fresh evidence secured by the ED sleuths the minister’s earlier claims of not knowing Rahaman at all has been demolished totally.

Besides being accused of selling flour meant for public distribution system (PDS) in the open market especially to certain packaged- flour marketing entities, Rahaman is also accused of procuring paddy from farmers below minimum support price by floating fake farmer’s cooperative and selling the same paddy at prices above the minimum support price.

IANS

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