Kolkata, 02 April (H.S.): A political controversy erupted in West Bengal on Thursday after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at multiple locations linked to officials of political consultancy firm I-PAC, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) alleging political vendetta and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) asserting that the action was part of an ongoing investigation.

According to officials, the ED carried out searches in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Delhi in connection with an alleged coal smuggling and pilferage case linked to West Bengal. Premises associated with I-PAC co-founder and director Rishi Raj Singh were also covered during the operation.

TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh alleged that the action was aimed at disrupting the party’s election campaign at a crucial time. He claimed that central agencies were being used to politically target the TMC and to gain access to its election strategy.

Ghosh also referred to a similar action in January and alleged that such steps were intended to create political pressure. He expressed confidence that such moves would instead strengthen public support for the TMC.

Earlier, during a similar ED search in Kolkata in January, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the residence of an I-PAC director and alleged that the agency was attempting to seize internal party documents and digital data related to the TMC’s election strategy.

Rejecting the allegations, senior BJP leader Rahul Sinha said the raids were not linked to the elections but were part of a continuing investigation into alleged coal and cattle smuggling cases. He said similar actions had taken place earlier as well and that several TMC leaders and ministers had faced legal action in connection with such cases.

Sinha maintained that the investigation would continue and that those found guilty would not be spared.

Sources said that I-PAC directors Rishi Raj Singh and Pratik Jain were recently summoned by the ED for questioning. Both have approached the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the notices, citing their ongoing election-related responsibilities in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh