West Bengal 'Coal Scam': ED Arrest I-PAC Director Vinesh Chandel

Enforcement Directorate, on Monday, arrested one of the directors and founder of political consultancy firm I-PAC, Vinesh Chandel, officials told Times Now. The anti-money laundering probe agency is probing I-PAC in the alleged coal pilferage case.ED case stems from the CBI FIR filed in November 2020 where it was alleged that crores of coal is being smuggled and pilferage is happening in Eastern Coalfields Limited Mines in West Bengal's Asansol district. The probe agency will be producing Chandel before the special judge's residence and seeking his custody. This is the first big arrest in the I-PAC linked coal pilferage investigations which started in January.On 8th January, the ED claimed its raids in Kolkata which were being carried out at premises

of I-PAC director Pratik Jain residence were disrupted when West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee stopped the raids mid way. "During the search, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South Kolkata and Officer in Charge of Sarani Police Station came to one of the premises along with 01 personnel to verify the identity of the officials. The Commissioner of Police, Kolkata also entered the premises shortly thereafter along with several officers of Kolkata Police. They were briefed about the proceedings by the Authorized Officer who also showed him his identity card," the ED said on 8th January."Proceedings were being conducted in a peaceful and professional manner, till the arrival of West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee along with large number of police officials. Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, and took away key evidences including physical documents and electronic devices.The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Banerjee, her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence," the ED said in a statement on 8th January. Soon after the raids, a war of words broke between TMC and BJP. TMC accused BJP of using ED to steal confidential data pertaining to voters. ED, however, countered this and levelled a serious charge against I-PAC"The person linked to generation of coal smuggling proceeds hawala operators and handlers are covered in PMLA search and IPAC is also one of the entities linked to hawala money," the ED said.I- PAC denied all charges :"Officials from the Enforcement Directorate carried out searches at the I-PAC office and at the residence of our Director, Pratik Jain, in Kolkata. It was a difficult and unfortunate day for a professional organisation like I-PAC. We believe this raises serious concerns and sets an unsettling precedent. Regardless, we have extended full cooperation and will continue to do so as required, engaging with the process in complete accordance and respect for the law," I-PAC said on 9 JanuaryPost ED searches West Bengal filed FIRs against ED officials. The matter went to Apex Court. SC has stayed any proceedings in these FIRs. ED has asked for a CBI probe in the 8th January incident. The SC continues to hear the case.On 2nd April ED carried out fresh searches at 11 locations in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Vijaywada and Ranchi. These searches were conducted on the office premises of IPAC, residence of its directors and offices of some companies linked with IPAC.