Shah Jahan’s aide and minister Jyotipria Malik sacked; sources say ‘involved in ration scam’

The Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government on Friday sacked arrested forest minister Jyotipria Malik, citing the party’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption. Malik was jailed for his alleged involvement in distribution of ration worth crores of rupees.

The portfolio of Forest Department is assigned to Birbaha Hansda, Minister of State for Forests and Self-Help Groups (Independent Charge).

A senior official said other portfolios of public enterprises and industrial redevelopment under Malik were allocated to Partha Bhowmick. Bhoomik is the minister-in-charge of the irrigation and waterways department.

The decision was taken on the advice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the senior official noted.

After Malik’s removal, TMC sources said both their party and the government “believe in transparency”. “We have said many times that there is zero tolerance for corruption,” no matter who the corrupt perpetrators are.

Party sources pointed out that action was taken against “heavyweight ministers” such as Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipria Malik.

Slamming the BJP, they said the saffron party “should answer” when it will “remove CBI-FIR named Suvendhu Adhkari or Narayan Rane, their chief minister Himanta Biswa Corrupt leaders such as Himanta Biswa Sarma.”

Sources also pointed out that TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has led the “zero tolerance” cause from the front.

Raj Bhavan sources said Governor CV Ananda Bose exercised his power under Article 166(3) of the Constitution to remove Malik from his ministerial duties with immediate effect.

Jyotipria Malik’s removal comes at a time when the Enforcement Directorate is hunting Shah Jahan Sheikh in connection with the ration scam. Malik is said to be a close aide of Sheikh.

Federal agency sources said funds from the rationing scam may have been diverted through Malik.

Absconding TMC leader Sheikh is yet to appear in court over the third summons issued to him in the multi-crore ration scam.

Sources at the federal agency said TMC leaders, to whom they have also issued a watchdog notice, may seek legal recourse if they do not respond to the subpoena at all.

In October last year, the ED arrested Malik under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with the scam.

(With PTI input)