As the recent raids at the office of the political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its head Pratik Jain turned into a massive faceoff between the TMC and the BJP, the Enforcement Directorate
on Thursday clarified that the searches are evidence-based and are not targeted at any political establishment.
Amid the raids, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee “rushed” to the residence of Pratik 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.
According to ED sources, the investigative agency has stated that no party office has been searched and the raids are being carried at around 10 places (6 in West Bengal and 4 in Delhi).
The agency sources 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.
The searches do not have any relation to elections and are part of a regular crackdown on money laundering, sources mentioned. The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards.
Certain persons, including constitutional functionaries, have come to two premises (out of 10), intruded illegally by misusing their position, and snatched away the documents.
Sources informed that I-PAC head, Pratik Jain, has alleged links with hawala dealers and this has been established in the investigations.
Mamata Banerjee Attacks
Reacting sharply to the searches, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee alleged political vendetta and accused the Centre of targeting her party ahead of elections.
While addressing the media, Banerjee said, “Is it the duty of the ED, Amit Shah, to collect the party’s hard disk, candidate list? The nasty, naughty Home Minister who cannot protect the country and is taking away all my party documents. What will be the result if I raid the BJP party office? On one side, they are deleting the names of all the voters by carrying out the SIR in West Bengal…Because of the elections, they are collecting all the information about my party.”
“They have committed a crime… I-PAC is our organisation. We are a registered political party… can they do this? If Amit Shah wants to win Bengal, then he should fight us. Why are you raiding the party office?” Banerjee said.
BJP Hits Back
Responding to the ED officials conducting a raid at the IPAC office in Salt Lake, Leader of the Opposition in the State Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari demanded legal action against Mamata Benrjee for interfering in the functioning of a central agency.
“I will not comment on the raid. The ED can provide the details. Mamata Banerjee is interfering in the functioning of central agencies. What Mamata did today was obstruct the investigation. Legal action must be taken against the Chief Minister,” Adhikari said.
He further questioned why was a voter list found at the IPAC office? “Is IPAC a party office? I challenge Mamata Banerjee to conduct raids anywhere. If a raid is carried out at your residence, at least Rs 100 crore will be recovered,” he said.
