Mamata's roar also shook ED, political power test begins in Bengal

Kolkata: (Agency) West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee has criticized the central investigative agency over the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) raid on locations associated with the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) in Kolkata. Mamata Banerjee alleged that the ED seized important documents from the Trinamool Congress party office and took action for political purposes. Following her allegations, the Enforcement Directorate issued a formal statement rejecting these claims.

Mamata Banerjee also launched a scathing attack on the central government and the Union Home Minister. She stated that the action was an attempt to obtain the Trinamool Congress's strategy, candidate list, and internal planning ahead of the elections. According to her, the center is deliberately trying to defame the state government and create political pressure.

Mamata Banerjee questioned whether it was the responsibility of the ED or the Union Home Minister to collect a political party's hard disk and candidate list. She accused the Home Minister, who is unable to secure the country, of being involved in seizing her party's documents. Mamata Banerjee asked what would happen if she were to conduct a similar raid on another party's office.

She stated that on one hand, voters' names are being removed from lists in West Bengal as part of the SIR process, and on the other hand, all information related to her party is being collected under the pretext of elections, which is outright political interference.

Meanwhile, the ED responded to Mamata Banerjee's allegations, stating that the action was not taken to target a political party but was based on evidence available in an old case. The agency clarified that the investigation is related to a money laundering case involving illegal coal smuggling, which includes the creation of cash, reference transactions, and the examination of financial routes.

The ED stated that raids are being conducted at six locations in West Bengal and four in Delhi, all of which are connected to the same case. The Enforcement Directorate also said that during the operation, no one entered the office of any political party. According to the ED, until the Chief Minister arrived at the scene with a large number of police personnel, the investigation process was peaceful and professional.

The ED claimed that during the raid, some individuals, including those holding constitutional posts, forcibly entered and attempted to seize official documents, which is being investigated. The search operation had been ongoing since morning, but the situation began to change around 12 pm when Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma arrived at the scene. A few minutes later, the Chief Minister also reached the location.

Eyewitnesses reported that Ms. Banerjee entered Pratik Jain's residence and emerged a few minutes later with a green file in her hand. The Chief Minister, while speaking to the media outside, alleged that her party's documents were being seized. She stated, "They were seizing all my party's documents. I have retrieved them. This is the work of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He is unable to secure the country, so he is seizing my party's papers."

Ms. Banerjee explained that Pratik Jain was in charge of her party's work and that during the search, hard disks and mobile phones were being seized. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari termed the Chief Minister's move as "unethical." He alleged that the Chief Minister had previously interfered with the work of constitutional agencies.

Mr. Adhikari recalled that in 2021, Mamata Banerjee had staged a dharna against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its Nizam Palace office over the arrest of Firhad Hakim, Subrata Mukherjee, and Madan Mitra. A similar protest was held when the CBI raided the residence of then-Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar. He also questioned why the Trinamool Congress would keep its documents at I-PAC.

After leaving Loudon Street, Ms. Banerjee headed to the I-PAC office in Sector 5, Salt Lake. However, before the Chief Minister's arrival, Bidhannagar Mayor Krishna Chakraborty had already reached the I-PAC office. She stated that she had gone there in connection with the "Unnayan Panchayat" campaign.

Ms. Chakraborty said that the raids were being conducted to intimidate the state government, and in this context, police security outside the office had been tightened. State Minister Sujit Bose and Bidhannagar Police Commissioner also arrived at the scene, while Trinamool Congress workers continued to raise slogans outside the office.

Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee obstructed the ED's operation and seized evidence in a reference case involving Anup Majhi and others.

The ED stated on Thursday that it was conducting raids in Kolkata in a PMLA case involving Anup Majhi and others, and that the operation was proceeding peacefully and professionally until the arrival of the West Bengal Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Ms. Banerjee, accompanied by a large number of police officers, entered Pratik Jain's residential complex and removed crucial evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.

The agency alleged that the Chief Minister's convoy then proceeded to the office of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), where Ms. Banerjee, her associates, and state police personnel forcibly removed additional documents and electronic evidence. The ED's case is based on a 2020 FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). During the investigation, the agency claimed to have uncovered a coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majhi, which allegedly stole coal from areas leased to Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) in West Bengal.

According to the ED, the coal was later sold to factories and plants in Bankura, Burdwan, Purulia, and other districts.