After Meeting ED Chief, West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose Summons Senior Government Officers To Brief Him About Ration Scam

On Wednesday (10 January), West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose asked senior government officers including Chief Secretary B P Gopalika to brief him about the ration scam, according to a report from The New Indian Express.

Along with Gopalika, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and DGP Rajiv Kumar too have been summoned by the Governor for the meeting.

On Tuesday, the ED director held a meeting with the Governor, lasting nearly 40 minutes, during which the ED chief provided the Governor with a briefing.

The report further quoted an official stating, "the Governor has asked the chief secretary, home secretary, and DGP to brief him about the proceedings on the ration scam. He will also ask them to give them details about the development in arresting the accused TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh."

Governor Bose had earlier termed the attack alarming and deplorable and warned the state government that it would have to face the consequences if it fails to act against those who attacked the ED team. 

He had also expressed worries that TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who is the main suspect in the assault case on ED officials, may have "crossed the border". He has ordered the authorities to apprehend him without delay and probe his purported links with terrorists. His comments were criticised by the TMC.

In connection with alleged irregularities in the ration scam, an ED team faced an attack on Friday while conducting a raid at the residence of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali. The ED has filed a complaint about the assault at the Nazat Police Station.

Both the family of the accused TMC leader and the state police have filed separate complaints against the central probe agency.

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