Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials began an early Thursday morning search at the residence of West Bengal minister Jyotipriya Mullick in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged multi-crore ration distribution scam, an officer said.

The ED slueths raided two flats belonging to Mullick, who is currently the state Forest minister, at Calcutta's Salt Lake area, supported by a team of central forces, he added.

Search operations were also on at eight other flats including the residences of Mullick's former personal assistant while he was the Food minister, he said.

"The minister was not there during the raid. He came later and his phone has been taken away. There are eight officers inside. We are also conducting searches at his former personal assistant's residence in Dum Dum and a few other places," the ED officer told PTI.

The central probe agency has already arrested one person who allegedly has close links to the ruling Trinamul Congress as well as Mullick, the officer added.

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