The huge number of properties accumulated by Bengal Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick — and his cronies — arrested for his alleged role in the multi-crore ration scam have come under the radar of Enforcement Directorate.

According to sources Mallick and his close businessman aide Rakibur Rehman had amassed more than 50 acres of lands, hotels, pubs and apartments in about 95 places including various parts of Kolkata, Bengaluru, Bolpur and other places.

Besides, Rehman who allegedly ran many of his businesses in

partnership with Mallick’s wife and daughter also has properties in Dubai, sources said. This, besides lands and farmhouses at Bolpur Shantiniketan, a popular tourist spot.

Mallick is the third Bengal minister after Partha Chatterjee and fourth MLA to be arrested on charges of corruption.

Even as the Trinamool Congress continued to term his arrest as “political vendetta,” State Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said, “if it is a vendetta then how his property grew 900 times and why was he not granted bail considering the non-availability of prima facie evidence.”

According to ED sources Mallick’s daughter who is presently working as a senior officer in the State education department had deposits of about Rs 3 crore in her bank account. The amount was allegedly earned during the pandemic period by way of giving tuitions.

Adhikari also said that Mallicks owned at least three luxury hotels in the beach town of Digha and some farmhouses in Delhi.

“I can show you the pictures of the properties thus owned by Jyoti Priya Mallick,” he said adding how his elder brother Debapriya Mallick was made a member of State Public Service Commission when a number of State services officers including BDOs were recruited,” he said adding how a candidate who obtained zero marks was finally given 162 thereby enabling him to land the job of a State civil services officer.

“The ration scam is closely linked to the recruitment scam and a third scam related to the Public Service Commission is likely to explode in the Government very soon,” Adhikari said.

Reacting to his statements TMC spokesperson Shantanu Sen said that “the people of Bengal do not want to listen to a person who was seen accepting bribes in camera in the Narada sting case and a person who is an FIR named accused.”