The minister was apprehended under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the early hours of Friday following over 17-18 hours of questioning. Pics/PTI
ED officials said Mallick was taken from his home in the Salt Lake area on the outskirts of Kolkata to the central agency's office here around 3.30 am
Mallick, who is a diabetic patient and has several other ailments, was taken to an ESI hospital in Joka in the southern part of the city, where he underwent medical tests, an ED officer said
"I am a victim of a great conspiracy," the TMC minister said after being arrested by ED in connection with the alleged ration distribution scam
Mallick also alleged that the "conspiracy was hatched by the BJP and its leader Suvendu Adhikari", a former colleague in the TMC party
"It is a conspiracy. The BJP is actively engaging in plotting nefarious schemes against us," said Mallick, who is currently state forest minister and previously held the portfolio of food and supplies
Mallick's arrest is the second instance of a cabinet minister of TMC being apprehended by central agencies in connection with corruption cases. Last year, former state minister Partha Chatterjee was arrested by the ED in a case related to a school job scam
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