Kolkata: Former West Bengal food and supplies minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been granted bail in the alleged ration distribution scam case. He was arrested by the ED on October 27, 2023.
The PMLA court in Bankshall Court complex has ordered Mallick to submit two bonds of Rs 25,000 each and a personal bond of Rs 50 lakh.
The former minister's lawyers said since there is no other case against him, Mallick will be released from jail on January 16.
In the previous hearing, the court had raised questions about the alleged ration distribution scam case the investigation process. Also, ED was questioned about a letter that was reportedly received from Mallick.
Judge Prashant Mukherjee told ED, "Why was a letter containing important information not seized? Where did this letter come from?" He further added, ""You were talking about ration corruption but did anyone die of starvation? Nobody complained. You were investigating theft but how did you find ration corruption? It's not enough for the ED to believe the case, when the matter is in court, it has to be substantiated."
The court also said that the six FIRs do not specify that there was corruption. "You found the documents by searching the mail. If there is a racket going on with the ration distribution system then you have to prove it," the judge stated.
In response, ED's lawyer said, "Investigation does not happen by sitting on a chair. There is no antenna here that can tell who has what. That is why the entire matter is being investigated. It is not a cake that can be eaten in one go. We are not supermen. We may not have been able to expedite the probe as expected from us."
After Mallick's arrest, a search was conducted at his residence in Salt Lake. Prior to which, a businessman from North 24 Parganas, Bakibur Rahman was arrested by the agency. It was alleged that he had made transactions worth crores of rupees in the bank accounts of various influential people, one of whom was the then minister Mallick.
Mallick had applied for bail several times citing his deteriorating health condition but his pleas were rejected.
The court has granted bail to Mallick but imposed some conditions. It has been stated that he will have to cooperate with ED investigation and inform the relevant agencies and the local administration before leaving the state. Also his passport will have to be submitted to the relevant authorities.
The other accused in the ration scam case, Bakibur Rahman and Shankar Aadhya, have already been granted bail. Mallick's lawyer said, "The former minister is ill and needs treatment outside the jail."
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