The ED conducted simultaneous raids at the Salt Lake Sector V office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and at the Loudon Street residence of its head, Pratik Jain, on Thursday morning, which led to sharp political reactions across West Bengal.
Reportedly, sources in the agency said a special ED team had arrived from Delhi and conducted the searches. The action is related to an old coal smuggling case registered in the national capital.
Searches at multiple locations
The raids started early Thursday and were conducted at three locations: I-PAC’s office on the 11th floor of a building in Salt Lake, Pratik Jain’s fourth-floor residence on Loudon Street and the office of a trader in Burrabazar’s Posta area. Jain was present at his residence at the time and was being questioned by ED officials. Searches were still underway till the afternoon.
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Chief minister visits Jain’s residence
Around noon, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at Pratik Jain’s residence while the ED officials were still present. This was just minutes after Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma had arrived.
Mamata accuses ED of targeting TMC documents
CM Mamata said that the ED carried out the raid to seize documents from Pratik Jain was "politically motivated and unconstitutional." She claimed the agency aimed to take away strategic TMC files, plans, candidate lists, and other party documents. Criticising Amit Shah, Mamata said, “Is this the duty of the Home Minister? That nasty Home Minister, naughty Home Minister, who cannot protect the country!” She further added, “What would happen if we raided a BJP office?"
Shubhendu Adhikari hits back, defends ED action
Following this fiasco, Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Shubhendu Adhikari, fired back. He said, “The ED can explain why it is conducting the raid. I won’t comment on any investigation by a central agency. The Chief Minister has interfered in central agency work before. In 2021, she staged a dharna. When a raid was conducted at Rajeev Kumar’s house in the Saradha case, she also protested with CP involved. Such actions by the Chief Minister are an interference in constitutional work. She is obstructing investigations. I condemn this. I hope the ED will take action against the Chief Minister using its authority.”
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On Mamata’s allegations against the ED, Shubhendu Adhikari added, “Why would I-PAC even have voter lists? A raid by the ED doesn’t automatically mean arrests. If the I-PAC office has the proper documents, they can simply show them, and the matter would be resolved.”
After leaving the I-PAC office, Mamata held a press conference where she alleged that the ED tried to seize TMC files, laptops, and documents related to SIR work. She said, “Showing courtesy is not my weakness.” Mamata has called on TMC workers and supporters to protest the ED’s actions, announcing that they will take to the streets block by block from 4 pm on Thursday.
