Kolkata, 22 April (H.S.) : Actress-turned-politician and former Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member Nusrat Jahan appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at its Kolkata office on Wednesday for questioning in connection with an alleged ration distribution case.
Jahan, who represented the Basirhat constituency in North 24 Parganas district, arrived at the ED office in the Central Government Office (CGO) complex in Salt Lake at around 10:45 a.m. She was accompanied by her partner and actor Yash Dasgupta and was carrying documents sought by investigating officials, sources said.
According to sources familiar with the matter, Jahan had initially requested permission to appear before ED officials at the agency’s New Delhi headquarters, citing prior commitments in the national capital. However, after the request was declined, she appeared at the Salt Lake office as directed.
Her appearance came a day before the first phase of the two-phase West Bengal Assembly elections scheduled for Thursday.
During the Covid-19 lockdown, several trucks were reportedly seized in border areas of Basirhat over allegations of smuggling wheat and rice to Bangladesh. Nusrat Jahan was the Member of Parliament from Basirhat at the time.
ED sources said multiple names had surfaced during the investigation into the alleged ration smuggling case, and officials intended to question her regarding the alleged wheat smuggling to Bangladesh.
Earlier, in 2023, the ED had also questioned Jahan for nearly six hours in connection with an alleged flat fraud case at the same CGO Complex.
In that case, BJP leader Shankudeb Panda had accused the actress of involvement in the alleged fraud and lodged a complaint with the ED. According to the chargesheet, during 2014-15, a company had allegedly collected ₹5.5 lakh each from more than 400 senior citizens on the promise of providing flats of around 1,000 square feet. However, neither the flats were delivered nor was the money refunded. Jahan had served as a director of the company, though she has denied all allegations.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
