In a PMLA case about alleged PDS ration siphoning to the open market, mixing wheat flour with fresh flour, and fraudulent paddy procurement, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) filed a Bakibur Rahaman, NPG Rice Mill Pvt. Ltd., Jyoti Priya Mallick, and the prosecution are all compliant (PC). the current Minister-In-Charge of Forest Affairs and Non-Conventional and Renewable Energy Sources of the Government of West Bengal (previously, Minister-In-Charge of Food and Supply Department Govt. of West Bengal), and others on December 12, 2023.
The Ld. Special PMLA Court in Kolkata received the prosecution’s complaint. A request for the confiscation of assets totaling Rs. 32.44 crore, including 101 immovable properties and the remaining balances in many bank accounts, has been submitted in the aforementioned complaint. These properties are purportedly obtained and derived from Proceeds of Crime (PoC). The PC was acknowledged by the Honorable Court on December 12, 2023.
Based on the FIRs that West Bengal Police had filed alleging that different private individuals had been involved in the fraudulent procurement of paddy and were in unlawful possession of PDS rations, the ED opened an inquiry. In the course of an ED inquiry, three regarding the suspected creation of Proceeds of Crime connected to the PDS fraud, significant methods of operation were identified, and they are as follows:
Allegedly, NPG Rice Mill Pvt. Ltd. conspired with PDS dealers, distributors, and other individuals to siphon off PDS atta/wheat flour, resulting in significant financial benefit for them at the expense of government monies. PDS Scheme beneficiaries. The information gathered indicates that about 25.55 percent of the total amount of atta that needed to be sent to the PDS Distributors was diverted. Additionally, it was discovered that NPG Rice Mill Private Limited was purchasing the atta-delivered back to different dealers via different middlemen/agents and combining it with fresh PDS atta.
A commensurate amount of wheat was allegedly being siphoned off in this way, producing proceeds of crime. This method of operation not only produced criminal gains but also had an impact on the caliber of the services provided. It was discovered that proceeds from crimes were made in another way, posing as paddy procurement in the name of fictitious farmers. It was discovered that Miller (Bakibur Rahaman) controlled or had close relations with numerous cooperative organizations. He obtained payments at MSP from these bank accounts by designating his family and subordinates as “fake farmers” in the muster rolls.
Investigation findings showed that Bakibur Rahaman invested in the purchase of numerous immovable properties laundered proceeds through several corporations, and transferred a portion of the proceeds to firms purportedly controlled and beneficially owned by Jyoti Priya Mallick. On December 11, 2023, the inquiry revealed that 101 immovable properties and Rs. 2.89 crores (the balance in the bank accounts) were provisionally attached as profits of crime purportedly earned from predicate offences.
Previously, Rs. 16.87 Crore in specific. Additionally, bank accounts were put on hold. Both Jyoti Priya Mallick and Bakibur Rahaman are currently in judicial detention after being arrested under section 19 of the PMLA, 2002. Additional research is currently being conducted.
