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What is the Multi-Crore Ration Scam in West Bengal?

By Avinash Singh

Published on: February 14, 2024 at 00:17 IST

Ration is a limited amount of something that one person is allowed to have, especially when there is not much of it available. In emergency situation or during particular activity a person gets a limited amount of food then that food is called as ration. In Indian the ration system is known as public distribution system, which was introduced by British during World War II. This system has played a vital role in attaining the level of food security and eliminating the threat of famines from the country.

India is a welfare state and for complete justice to the people India continued the policy of public distribution system after independence. Although British had stopped this system after completion of World War II.

Ration system is a food security system that was established by Government under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, to distribute the food among the poor people of the country at subsidised rate. The main commodities which are given to them are wheat, rice, sugar, edible oil etc. This system is governed by Essential Commodities Act 1955. The government buy surplus food grains mainly from Haryana and Punjab and other things from other States. These food grains distributed to poor people throughout the country, which is managed by state government.

The ration is in news because of a ration scam in West Bengal. The allegation on certain minister, mill owners, distributers and businessman is that, they were indulge in malpractice of selling of the commodities of ration on market price instead of providing that commodities to poor people of state on subsidised rate. They were providing less quantity of ration as which was mandated by the government.

The multi-crore ration scam in West Bengal casts a dark shadow over India’s essential Public Distribution System (PDS), designed to provide subsidized food grains to vulnerable populations.

In this article the we will be discussing the enormous ration scam of West Bengal, and also give cursory glance that who are involved in the scam, what are the finding of Enforcement Directorate.

Delving into the Alleged Ration Scam in West Bengal

A significant alleged irregularity has been identified within the Public Distribution System (PDS) of West Bengal, India. This system plays a vital role in ensuring food security for vulnerable populations by providing subsidized food grains. Reports suggest potential misuse of funds amounting to crores of rupees, raising concerns about its impact on intended beneficiaries.

While details remain under investigation, potential irregularities reportedly include creation of ghost beneficiaries, diversion of allocated grains to the black market, and inflated billing practices. These actions, if confirmed, would directly deprive eligible individuals of their rightful access to subsidized food.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is leading the investigation, conducting raids and questioning suspects across the state. High-profile arrests have drawn further attention to the alleged scam’s potential magnitude and reach.

The investigating agency and opposition party in the state claimed that the rice, wheat and other commodities which has to supply to poor people of the state at subsidised price was supplied in less quantity than it was mandated by Government, and the surplus food grains were sold in the open market for profit.

The profit was distributed among the distributers, mill owners and Minister’s office. According to Enforcement Directorate, the flour mill owners were supplying less flour to the distributers than they have collected the money from the government. On the interrogation of mill owners they said that, they were supplying only 600 grams of flour to government suppliers instead of 1 kg of flour.

There was emphatic increase in the scam during the Covid-19 pandemic, when under Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY) scheme the Central government directs that, each ration card holder was entitled to 5 kg of food grains and 1 kg of pulses free for per person under the National Food Security Act.

In the middle of national pandemic several protests were arose across the districts of the state for the irregularities in the public distribution system, in some district the FIR was also registered.

The Allegations:

The crux of the scam lies in suspected irregularities within the PDS, a vital program ensuring subsidized food grains reach millions of vulnerable beneficiaries. Reports point to a web of malpractices, including:

  • Ghost beneficiaries: The creation of fictitious individuals on ration rolls enables the illegal diversion of grains and funds meant for legitimate beneficiaries.
  • Black market diversion: PDS grains are allegedly sold on the black market for inflated prices, depriving beneficiaries and generating illegal profits.
  • Inflated billing practices: Artificially inflated bills for food grains and transportation could lead to the misappropriation of public funds.

The Investigations by ED in Ration Scam

Enforcement Directorate was established in the year 1956. According to investigating agency it is multi crore scam of approx 10,000 crore. The ED said that, the scam was commenced after the influence by businessmen named Bakibur Rahaman, who was allegedly protected by minister Jytipriya Mullick. Bakibur Rahaman framed a formula of 20-80, 20% of profit was distributed among distributer and 80% amongs mill owners, minister office etc. He was arrested on October 13, 2023 by ED after the search of about 50 hours at his flat, he was believed to be vital link in the scam.

Jyotipriya Mullick held the office of state’s food and supplies department as a minister from 2011 to 2021. In his tenure the scam took place. He was arrested by ED on October 27 for over 20 hours, the arrest was made for the involvement in the open market sale of subsidised food grain meant for the poor people of the state. ED has also stated that, the wife and daughter of Jyotipriya Mullick both were the beneficiary in the company of Bakibur Rahaman. ED have proof that Mullick was not only involved in the ration scam, he was also the direct beneficiary of the illegal profit gained by the selling of ration in open market.

In reply Mullick said that, the central government not fulfilled the actual demand of food grain in the state, that is why the beneficiary of ration scheme not get the actual quantity of food. But central government denies from this allegation.

In month of January 2024, the ED went to the house of political leader Shahjahan Seikh to conduct raid in connection with an alleged ration scam case. In the meantime hundreds of supporter of Seikh gathered around his house and started chanting the slogans, and after few hours the mob attacked the officers of ED and 3 of the officers were seriously injured by that attack, the CRPF person were stand there by folded hand, they do nothing to save them.

After this incidence the ED moved to Calcutta High Court and filed a petition to transfer the cases to CBI for further investigation, the counsel claimed that proper investigation had not been conducted in those FIRs. ED claimed that politically influential person are involved in the alleged scam, hence the ED prayed that it is necessary the investigation of the case must be handed over the CBI.

Opposing the prayer of ED, state’s counsel said that State police have been already submitted the 5 out of 6 charge-sheet. High Court said that the State police has already submitted the charge-sheet of most of the criminal cases in the trial court, there is no delay on their part and asked to ED to file it affidavit in reply. The court also directed the state to produce the case diaries on the next day of hearing.

After the attack on ED, the ED raid in the house of Trinamool Congress leader Shankar Adhya and arrested him for the alleged involvement in the ration scam. He was the chairman of the Bongaon municipality for more than five years from 2015 to 2021.

ED sending the summons to the different person who are allegedly involved in the ration scam, ED also have suspect that approx 2000 crore rupees was send in Dubai through the company owns by Shankar Adhya. He owns a foreign exchange company in India near Bangladesh border, his relatives also run several such companies, which was used to siphoning off huge amounts to a Dubai based company’s account.

The extent of the scam remains unclear, but the involvement of high-level officials and the intervention of the Enforcement Directorate indicate its potential magnitude, putting millions of PDS beneficiaries at risk.

Impact of scam

The primary victims of this alleged scam are the millions who rely on the PDS for their basic food needs. The alledged scam impacted millions in following way:

  • Food insecurity: Denied their rightful rations, beneficiaries could face food shortages, impacting their health, well-being, and even survival.
  • Erosion of trust: Public confidence in the PDS, already strained by past irregularities, could be severely eroded, hindering its effectiveness in reaching those in need.
  • Systemic vulnerabilities: The investigation may expose deep-rooted weaknesses in the PDS, demanding urgent policy and implementation reforms to address them.

Conclusion

In light of the alleged scam in the West Bengal ration system, it is imperative to approach the situation with a dual perspective: addressing the immediate need for investigation and accountability while also recognizing the potential for positive transformation.

The saga of scam is not new in India, in every state all over the India the cases of scam comes time to time, and most of the time there is involvement of politically influenced people who uses the loopholes in the system and commits the scam only for their benefit. By such multi crore scams there is big loss of country and people also loses their faith in the democratic system of the country. It is not only just a scam, it is fraud on constitution, country and citizens of country. A very famous case known as Chara Ghotala which was occurred in State of Bihar in which the former chief minister Lalu Prashad Yadav was convicted and sentenced for imprisonment.

As far as concern about the ration scam, this is enormous scam which affect the poor people who are only depend on subsidised food grains, and it also cause the food scarcity in the country. To prevent such scams the legislature have to make more strengthen enactment which penalize the convicts. History is the witness of the fact that no law is able to completely eradicate any offence but by enacting the strengthen legislation this can be curtailed to very extent.

The West Bengal ration scam serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within PDS systems and the devastating impact of corruption on food security. While the investigation unfolds, it is crucial to focus on ensuring justice, strengthening the PDS, and upholding the right to food for all. Only through collective action and unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability can we build a PDS that truly serves the most vulnerable and safeguards their fundamental right to food.

Reference

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