In a latest development, West Bengal's Minister of Forest Affairs and prominent Trinamool Congress leader, Jyotripriya Mallick, was apprehended by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) late Thursday, linked to a suspected corruption case concerning ration distribution.

Before assuming his current role as the Minister of Forest Affairs, Jyotripriya Mallick served as the Minister for Food and Supplies in the West Bengal government.

The ED issued an official statement confirming the arrest, stating, "West Bengal Minister Jyotipriya Mallick has been taken into custody by the ED regarding an alleged corruption case within the ration distribution system."

This arrest occurred following a day of extensive searches conducted by the ED at his residence situated in Salt Lake, on the outskirts of Kolkata.

As he was escorted from his residence by law enforcement authorities, Jyotripriya Mallick asserted that he was a "victim of a grave conspiracy."

Notably, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee had, just hours prior to Mallick's arrest, warned of initiating a police case against the BJP and the ED if any harm befell Mallick during the search operations at his home, citing his health concerns. Banerjee additionally contended that the raids were carried out despite a lack of concrete evidence of wrongdoing.

It's worth mentioning that in 2022, former West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee and his associate Arpita Mukherjee were apprehended in connection with a teachers' recruitment scandal. Their arrests were prompted by the discovery of a substantial amount of cash at Arpita's residence.

Further complicating matters, Mamata Banerjee's close confidant and TMC's Birbhum district president, Anubrata Mondal, was also arrested in 2022, related to a cattle smuggling case.

In addition, the Chief Minister's nephew and TMC's General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, faced multiple summons and inquiries by the ED concerning corruption allegations.

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