Probe heat rises as ED summons ex-TMC MP Nusrat Jahan

The Enforcement Directorate summoned Nusrat Jahan in a ration scam probe ahead of West Bengal polls. She has been asked to appear for questioning as political tensions rise, with Trinamool alleging central agency misuse

Kolkata: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned actress and former Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan in connection with the ration scam, officials of the central probe agency said on Monday.

She has been asked to appear at the agency’s CGO Complex office in Salt Lake on Wednesday (April 22) — a day ahead of the first phase of the West Bengal Assembly elections — for questioning in the case. However, the actress and former Basirhat MP has not yet responded to the summons.

---

According to sources close to Nusrat, she is expected to respond shortly. It is also learnt that she may not appear at the Kolkata office and could instead present herself at the agency’s headquarters in New Delhi.

During the Covid-19 lockdown, several trucks were seized in border areas of West Bengal’s Basirhat on charges of smuggling wheat and rice to Bangladesh. Nusrat was the Basirhat MP at that time. According to ED sources, several names have surfaced during the investigation into the alleged ration smuggling, and officials intend to question her regarding wheat smuggling to Bangladesh.

However, a few days ago, the Tollywood actress had travelled abroad on a holiday with her partner and actor Yash Dasgupta. It is not known whether she has returned to Kolkata.

Earlier, the ED had also questioned Nusrat in connection with a flat fraud case. In 2023, the then Trinamool MP from Basirhat was questioned for about six hours at the CGO Complex.

BJP leader Shankudeb Panda had accused the MP-actress of involvement in the alleged fraud and had lodged a complaint with the ED.

The chargesheet stated that in 2014–15, a company had collected Rs 5.5 lakh each from more than 400 senior citizens, promising flats of around 1,000 square feet. However, neither the flats were delivered nor was the money returned. Nusrat was a director in the company. She has denied the allegations.

Meanwhile, in poll-bound West Bengal, the ED has stepped up activity in multiple cases in recent days. The Trinamool Congress has termed the developments a “conspiracy” by the BJP, alleging misuse of central agencies against its leaders ahead of elections.

It may be noted that Trinamool MP and lawyer Kalyan Banerjee has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court, claiming that around 800 party workers could face arrest ahead of the Assembly elections, and has sought immediate judicial intervention.