Kolkata, 08 January (H.S.) :

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday approached a single bench of the Calcutta High Court, leveling serious allegations against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her conduct during search operations at premises linked to political consultancy firm India Political Action Committee (I-PAC).

In its petition, the ED alleged that the Chief Minister misused her constitutional position and obstructed the official duties of central agency officers during raids and search operations. The agency claimed that documents containing evidence of corruption were forcibly taken from its officers during the operation.

According to the ED, its teams were conducting searches at I-PAC’s office in north Kolkata and at the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain in central Kolkata when the Chief Minister arrived at both locations. The agency alleged that she was accompanied by senior officials of the West Bengal Police and Kolkata Police, and that files and electronic materials were removed from the premises during this period.

The ED also issued a statement rejecting Banerjee’s allegation that the agency had “stolen” Trinamool Congress-related documents during the searches.

Justice Suvra Ghosh’s single bench admitted the ED’s petition and scheduled the matter for hearing on Friday, sources said.

Earlier in the day, while ED teams were simultaneously conducting raids at the I-PAC office and Jain’s residence, the Chief Minister visited both locations and later accused the agency of misconduct.

The ED clarified that the search operation was being carried out at 10 locations simultaneously—six in West Bengal and four in Delhi—under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majhi.

The agency stressed that the searches had no political motive and were unrelated to I-PAC’s association with any political party. “The searches were proceeding peacefully until the arrival of the Chief Minister and senior state police officials. Thereafter, physical documents and electronic evidence were forcibly removed from two premises, obstructing the ongoing investigation,” the ED said.

The ED further maintained that no party office was searched and that the action was evidence-based and conducted strictly in accordance with law.

Following these developments, the West Bengal BJP issued a statement backing the ED, asserting that law enforcement agencies must be allowed to function independently and without political interference, warning that politicisation of investigations undermines public faith in constitutional institutions and the rule of law.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh