NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate on Monday blamed the Bengal police for its lackadaisical approach that led to an attack on its team and disruption of its search operations in North 24 Parganas district on December 5 against two accused in the public distribution system (PDS) scam and money laundering case.
The probe agency said it has gathered information that ‘proceeds of crime’ of Rs 10,000 crore has been generated by stealing foodgrains meant for the poor, Rs 2,000 crore of which has been transferred to Dubai.
In a press note issued on Monday, the agency said that the area superintendent of police of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas was informed well in advance on December 5 for providing adequate security but no arrangements were made, blaming the local police of ignoring the concerns of the central agency on likely law and order problems that may arise as a result of the searches on TMC leaders.
“Despite this request, a crowd was allowed to gather near the premises being searched and the crowd pelted stones and attacked the ED team. The crowd damaged the vehicle of the search team when it was at the premises of Sankar Addhya (one of the accused) who was later arrested,” ED said.
On the magnitude of the scam involving TMC leader and minister Jyotipriya Mallick, ED said its “investigation indicates that the proceeds of crime received and further transferred and layered by one suspected person itself are to the tune of Rs 9,000-10,000 crore, and out of that Rs 2,000 crore suspected to have been transferred to Dubai either directly or through Bangladesh.”
The agency further said that Sankar Addhya owns and controls many foreign currency exchange companies, which were involved in laundering the proceeds of crime from the PDS scam.
The police, ED said, has not yet provided a copy of FIR lodged by ED against the attack on its officials. “Bongaon police was informed via e-mail at 8.46am and then SP, Bongaon was contacted on mobile around 4pm with the request to provide security to the ED team,” the agency stated.
The probe agency said it has gathered information that ‘proceeds of crime’ of Rs 10,000 crore has been generated by stealing foodgrains meant for the poor, Rs 2,000 crore of which has been transferred to Dubai.
In a press note issued on Monday, the agency said that the area superintendent of police of Bongaon in North 24 Parganas was informed well in advance on December 5 for providing adequate security but no arrangements were made, blaming the local police of ignoring the concerns of the central agency on likely law and order problems that may arise as a result of the searches on TMC leaders.
“Despite this request, a crowd was allowed to gather near the premises being searched and the crowd pelted stones and attacked the ED team. The crowd damaged the vehicle of the search team when it was at the premises of Sankar Addhya (one of the accused) who was later arrested,” ED said.
On the magnitude of the scam involving TMC leader and minister Jyotipriya Mallick, ED said its “investigation indicates that the proceeds of crime received and further transferred and layered by one suspected person itself are to the tune of Rs 9,000-10,000 crore, and out of that Rs 2,000 crore suspected to have been transferred to Dubai either directly or through Bangladesh.”
The agency further said that Sankar Addhya owns and controls many foreign currency exchange companies, which were involved in laundering the proceeds of crime from the PDS scam.
The police, ED said, has not yet provided a copy of FIR lodged by ED against the attack on its officials. “Bongaon police was informed via e-mail at 8.46am and then SP, Bongaon was contacted on mobile around 4pm with the request to provide security to the ED team,” the agency stated.
