ED arrests TMC leader Shankar Adhya in Bengal ration scam

The ED arrested Adhya in the wee hours on Saturday after about 17 hours of interrogation in the alleged ration distribution scam.

Adhya was also known as a close associate of arrested forest minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, a former food minister.

The scam was allegedly committed during Mallick's stint as food minister between 2011-2021, sources said.

Sources said the ED would produce Adhya before a special court for judicial process later in the day after a mandatory medical test.

Adhya's arrest happened hours after another ED team was bashed up by a section of TMC supporters at Sarberia, Sandeshkhali, also in North 24 Parganas on Friday.

Sources said the West Bengal police has detained ten suspects in this connection.

Sources said the ED waited for hours to get a response as the collapsible gates of Sahjahan Sheikh were locked from inside.

Subsequently the central probe agency tried to break open the gates.

Seeing this, the TMC supporters allegedly began beating the ED officials in presence of the Central armed forces, who were outnumbered.

Two of the ED officials were wounded in the attacks, one of them got head injuries, sources added.

The media persons who were covering the event, were also roughed up and their cameras damaged.

Press Club, Kolkata, condemned the attacks.