ED Moves HC After Mamata’s Intervention in I-PAC Search
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Kolkata
- Jan 08, 2026
- 600
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee obstructed an ongoing money laundering investigation linked to alleged coal smuggling during raids conducted at the residence and office of Pratik Jain, director of political consulting firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC).
According to the ED, the Chief Minister forcibly entered Jain’s Loudon Street residence in Kolkata during the raid and removed several physical documents and electronic devices. The agency further claimed that she later went to I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake, where additional evidence was allegedly taken away with the assistance of state police personnel.
Pratik Jain is a senior executive at I-PAC and also heads the IT cell of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).
ED Approaches Calcutta High Court
The ED has moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging tampering with evidence and obstruction of official duty. The matter is scheduled to be heard on Friday by a bench headed by Justice Suvra Ghosh.
Meanwhile, I-PAC has challenged the legality of the search operation, while Jain’s family has announced plans to file a complaint against ED officials at Shakespeare Sarani police station, accusing them of stealing important documents during the raid.
Timeline of Events
The ED raid began around 6 a.m. on Thursday and intensified after 11:30 a.m. The Kolkata Police Commissioner was among the first officials to arrive at Jain’s residence. Shortly thereafter, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the premises and remained there for some time. When she left, she was seen carrying a green file.
The Chief Minister later visited the I-PAC office, alleging that central agencies were seizing her party’s internal documents.
The ED stated that raids were conducted at six locations in West Bengal and four locations in Delhi as part of the operation.
Mamata Banerjee Calls Action Politically Motivated
Mamata Banerjee strongly denied the ED’s allegations and termed the raids “politically motivated.” Addressing reporters, she accused the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of misusing central agencies.
“Is it the job of the ED and the Home Minister to seize party hard drives, candidate lists and strategy documents? This is sleazy and mischievous politics,” she said.
Appealing directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee remarked,
“Forgive me, Prime Minister, but please control your Home Minister. If the BJP cannot defeat us democratically, why are you coming to Bengal?”
She also announced a protest march on Friday at 2 p.m. against what she described as harassment through central agencies.
ED Links Case to Coal Smuggling Syndicate
The ED clarified that the searches were based solely on evidence and had no connection with elections or political parties. The agency said the action is linked to a 2020 CBI case involving the coal smuggling syndicate allegedly run by Anup Maji, also known as Lala, operating in the Asansol and West Bardhaman regions under Eastern Coalfields.
According to the ED, a hawala operator connected to the syndicate routed transactions worth several crores of rupees to Indian PAC Consulting Pvt Ltd (I-PAC). The agency claimed that I-PAC had links with entities involved in hawala-based money laundering.
The ED further stated that the search proceedings were being conducted peacefully and professionally until the Chief Minister arrived with a large contingent of police officers, which, it claimed, disrupted the investigation.
Political Reactions
Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, accused Mamata Banerjee of interfering in the functioning of central agencies.
“What the Chief Minister did amounts to obstruction of an investigation. Legal action should be taken. Why were voter lists found in the I-PAC office? Is I-PAC a party office?” he asked.
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that despite being a corporate entity, I-PAC effectively functions as the “eyes and ears” of the Trinamool Congress and engages in politically unethical activities to ensure electoral victories.