With just three days remaining before the second phase of the 2026 Assembly elections, the Enforcement Directorate has intensified its crackdown on the long-standing ration distribution scam. On Saturday morning, central agency officials launched coordinated searches at 17 different locations across West Bengal, focusing primarily on the Habra region.

Key Targets and Locations

The raids specifically targeted the residences and offices of prominent rice and grain merchants. In Habra, central investigators focused on four key figures:

Rajib Saha and Partha Saha: Businessmen residing on Subhash Road, South Habra.

Samir Chandra: A trader based on Netaji Road in Jaygazi.

Sagar Saha: A businessman located in the Srinagar area of Habra.

In total, the ED is investigating nine businessmen, spanning multiple commercial establishments, private offices, and residential properties. Heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces was seen cordoning off these areas as the searches commenced.

The “COVID-Era” Connection

According to sources, this fresh momentum in the investigation stems from a massive seizure during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, authorities intercepted 171 trucks allegedly involved in smuggling over 5,000 tons of wheat.

The Customs Department originally detained the fleet, but the case was later transferred from the State Police to the ED due to the scale of the financial irregularities. The investigation highlights a sophisticated operation:

Value of Seized Goods: Approximately ₹16 crore.

The Modus Operandi: Wheat dispatched from the Food Corporation of India (FCI) was allegedly diverted through fraudulent accounting and smuggled across the border into Bangladesh.

The Suspects: The individuals currently under the scanner were reportedly identified as the “exporters” in the original case, allegedly profiting immensely from the illegal trade.

Political Significance

The timing of these raids has sparked a political firestorm. Habra is scheduled to go to the polls on April 29. Interestingly, the TMC has once again fielded Jyotipriya Mallick from this constituency, despite his previous arrest in connection with the ration scam.

The allegations suggest that the wheat export irregularities occurred during Mallick’s tenure as the Food and Supplies Minister. With the election just hours away, the ED’s renewed activity has become a central point of contention between the ruling party and the opposition, adding a layer of high-stakes drama to the final leg of the campaign.

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