The Enforcement Directorate (ED) accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of forcibly entering the premises of the I-PAC office and the residence of its chief consultant, Prateek Jain, and taking
away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The ED has moved the Calcutta High Court, which has agreed to hear the matter on Friday.
This occurred during an intense political showdown as the ED conducted raids at the office of the political consultancy firm I-PAC and Jain’s residence, which it claimed were connected to Anup Majee, an accused in the 2020 West Bengal coal mining scam.
Amid the raids, Mamata Banerjee rushed to the residence of Prateek Jain and claimed that the officials are attempting to seize her party, the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC), hard disks as well as internal documents and sensitive data. She called the raids politically motivated ahead of this year’s elections.
ED’s Allegations Against Mamata Banerjee
“Proceedings were being conducted in a peaceful and professional manner, till the arrival of West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms. Mamata Banerjee along with large number of police officials. Ms. Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices,” the ED said in an official statement.
ED Headquarters Unit is conducting search action at 10 premises (6 in West Bengal and 4 in Delhi) under PMLA in connection with coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee used to steal and illegally excavate coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal. The search action was… pic.twitter.com/ab7PCReiJo
— ED (@dir_ed) January 8, 2026
“The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s official premises, from where Ms. Banerjee, her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidences. The above actions have resulted in obstruction in ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA,” it added.
The agency further mentioned that the searches are linked to a case related to illegal coal smuggling and are not in relation to any political party. The search covers various premises linked to the generation of cash, hawala transfer, etc. It said the searches do not have any relation to elections and are part of a regular crackdown on money laundering.
The ED moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging illegal interference during its search operations. The agency filed a case citing obstruction and hindrance to the investigation during the raids. The matter is scheduled to be heard by Justice Suvra Ghosh on Friday.
BJP Slams Mamata Banerjee
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticised Mamata Banerjee after the ED’s statement, with Amit Malviya calling it a “damning indictment” of the West Bengal Chief Minister.
“According to the ED, Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by a large contingent of police officials, personally entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain and removed crucial evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office, where Mamata Banerjee, her aides, and state police personnel forcibly seized documents and electronic evidence linked to an ongoing investigation,” he said.
The Enforcement Directorate’s statement is a damning indictment of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
According to the ED, Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by a large contingent of police officials, personally entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain and removed… https://t.co/YaqM15OVYV
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 8, 2026
“These actions, as stated by the ED, amount to direct obstruction of a lawful investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). That a sitting Chief Minister would intervene in this manner, not to uphold the law, but to shield an agency involved in coal smuggling and money laundering, is nothing short of shameful. This is abuse of power at its worst,” he added.
BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha alleged the TMC government was a “direct stakeholder and collaborator” in all serious crimes taking place in West Bengal.
