Jyoti Priya Mallick's Former PA Says Mother and Wife Were Appointed Directors of 3 Firms at Minister's Request
Companies Allegedly Used to Store 'Proceeds of Crime' from Ration Distribution System Scam
Abhijit Das, the former personal assistant of Jyoti Priya Mallick, said on Monday that his mother and wife were appointed directors of three firms at the former minister's request. The minister was detained in relation to suspected irregularities in Bengal's public distribution system.
The location of the three firms is the same: Bhagawati Colony on Jessore Road in Dum Dum, North 24-Parganas, where Mallick was the district president of the Trinamul. Two of the companies were established on March 6, 2008, and the third one five days later on March 11.
The three businesses were allegedly utilized to store "proceeds of crime" resulting from purported anomalies in the ration distribution system, according to senior ED officials.
According to authorities, Bakibur Rahman, the businessman from Calcutta who was previously detained for his suspected role in the case, said he gave the detained minister loans totaling many crores from these firms, but the minister never paid back the money.
Within three years of his joining in 2011, Das claimed that his wife Sukanya and mother Mamata had resigned from their positions as directors of these firms.
"Montri jokhon nirddesh dyan tokhon toh korteyi hoy (When the minister orders it has to be followed)," Das said to media when they questioned how they were appointed directors of these businesses that are now being investigated by the ED.
"My wife and mother quit not long after I quit my work. "I was not aware of these three companies' transactions," said Das.
According to documents filed with the registrar of companies, two of these businesses are "under liquidation," while the third has been disbanded, according to ED officials.
The police said that Mallick's wife Manidipa and his daughter Priyadarshini were appointed directors of these three firms, whose names kept changing.
On Monday, the ED brought Mallick before Bankshall court. He was placed in ED's custody until November 13 by the court.
"I will return in seven days, Saath din baade abar aaschhi," Mallick said as he left the courtroom.
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