The Statesman reported that West Bengal state food and supplies minister Mr Jyotipriya Mullick said the substandard iron ore supplied in the INR 139 crore scam in the state owned Essential Commodities Supply Corporation in connection with which two of the state's top IAS officials have been arrested had been kept in godowns owned by the former Haldia strongman and CPI-M MP Mr Lakshman Seth.

The minister alleged that the sub standard iron ore was transported to Beijing from Mr Seth's storage facilities Haldia port.

The minister said he was basing his claim on Mr Seth's involvement on the IAS officers' statements to the CID which is investigating the scam.

In 2004, the West Bengal Essential Commodities Supply Corporation had bagged a contract to supply iron ore to China. The then MD of the state firm Mr Debaditya Chakroborty, who is one of the two officials in prison, had allegedly given his consent to engage a private firm to supply iron ore and cargo ships were contracted for this purpose. The consignments, however, were rejected by the Chinese buyers as they were found to be sub standard.

(Sourced from www.thestatesman.net)