Kolkata, 08 January (H.S.):
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday morning conducted search operations at the Salt Lake Sector V office of political consultancy firm India Political Action Committee (I-PAC), which advises the West Bengal government, and at the Loudon Street residence of its founder, Pratik Jain.
According to agency sources, a special ED team from Delhi carried out the raids in connection with an old coal smuggling case registered in the national capital. The searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Soon after news of the raids broke, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Pratik Jain’s residence in the afternoon. Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma had arrived at the spot around five minutes before the Chief Minister, sources said.
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Sharp Attack on Amit Shah
Terming the ED action a “political conspiracy”, Banerjee launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
“Unfortunately, our IT cell office has been targeted and there was an attempt to seize all hard disks. This appears to be part of a well-planned political strategy,” the Chief Minister said.
Escalating her criticism, Banerjee said, “Amit Shah is a ‘nasty’ Home Minister who has failed even to protect the country. Enforcement agencies and the Home Ministry have failed to safeguard democratic institutions. On one hand, voters’ names are being deleted, and on the other, there is an attempt to illegally collect sensitive data.”
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Political Reactions Intensify
The ED action triggered sharp political reactions across the state. CPI(M) state secretary Mohammed Salim convened an emergency press conference on Thursday afternoon, which is being seen as linked to the I-PAC raids.
The development also sparked intense discussions within the ruling Trinamool Congress and the state administration. Pratik Jain is considered an influential figure in political and administrative circles and has met Chief Minister Banerjee at Nabanna on several occasions.
Ahead of the Assembly elections, I-PAC is regarded as a crucial link between the government and the ruling party, particularly in the implementation of welfare schemes. The firm is also known to maintain regular contact with senior bureaucrats and to work closely with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and his office. I-PAC is believed to play a significant role in candidate selection and overall election strategy during Assembly polls.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
