After ED raids I-PAC office, head Pratik Jain’s home, Mamata Banerjee says agency ‘trying to get party internal documents’

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The searches covered I-PAC’s office on the 11th floor of a Salt Lake building, Jain’s Loudon Street residence, and the office of a trader in Burrabazar.

As word of the raids spread, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma reached Jain’s residence around 11.45 am. And by noon, Banerjee was there.

She got out of her car and walked up the street, asking: “Pratik er barita kothay (where is Pratik’s house)?” A while later, she came out of the residence holding a green plastic folder and a laptop. She left at 12.40 pm.

“It is most unfortunate that the ED raided the house and office of our IT wing and its head. They are trying to collect information. I rang up Pratik; he is in charge of my party’s IT wing,” she said outside his home. “I have collected the party file. ED is trying to get details of all our party activities, strategy and plans. They are trying to get the candidate list and our internal information. Is this the duty of the ED and Amit Shah? See, I got this, the file and hard drive,” she said, showing the green folder. “What if I raid the BJP party office? What will be the fallout?”

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Afterwards, the CM headed to I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake, reaching less than 10 minutes later. She parked her car in the basement and went to the 11th floor. Later, police personnel could be seen bringing down files and putting them in her vehicle. Like at Jain’s residence, additional central forces were deployed around this building, as were state police personnel.

Speaking to reporters at the spot, the CM again alleged there had been an attempt to seize her party’s important documents. “Such a raid on our party office is a crime. I-PAC is our authorised team. We file income tax. In the name of the raids, they transferred information on our election details, strategy, candidate list and SIR details,” she alleged.

“The nasty home minister, who cannot protect the country, is taking away all my party’s documents,” she said. “I have never seen such dacoits. They can’t fight us politically, now they are looting. On Thursday evening, our party will hold protest marches in every block and ward of the state.”

She left the I-PAC office around 4.30 pm. “I will be back. Bengal will not tolerate his assault,” she said.

ED moves court

According to the ED, the searches were carried out based on a CBI FIR registered in 2020 against alleged coal smuggling kingpin Anup Majee alias Lala and others, following which the agency had recorded an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

“While we were conducting the searches, the chief minister of West Bengal arrived with the state DGP and a contingent of local police force. We had the support of only six CRPF personnel. We couldn’t do anything. She carried away the files, laptop and mobile phone belonging to Jain,” a senior ED officer claimed while speaking to The Indian Express.

In its statement, the ED alleged that proceedings were “being conducted in a peaceful and professional manner” until the CM’s arrival. According to the agency, Banerjee “entered Jain’s residential premises and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices”. The ED alleged that her convoy then went to the I-PAC office, from where “physical documents and electronic evidence” were forcibly removed by her, her aides and state police personnel.

“These actions have resulted in obstruction in the ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA,” the ED said.

According to the ED, investigations have revealed that a coal smuggling syndicate led by Majee allegedly stole and illegally excavated coal from leasehold areas of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) in West Bengal, which was then sold to factories across districts such as Bankura, Bardhaman and Purulia.

Both the CBI and ED have earlier questioned Rujira Banerjee, wife of Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, in the case, alleging links with Majee.

The agency moved the Calcutta High Court during the day, alleging hindrance in an ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA.

The matter was mentioned before the Bench of Justice Suvra Ghosh, which allowed it to be filed. The ED counsel said they have sought an urgent hearing.

Later, Kolkata Police filed a case against ED officials. Police sources said an FIR has been filed against unknown ED officials and CRPF personnel for illegal trespass and criminal intimidation.

Opposition fire

The Opposition, meanwhile, trained its guns on the CM. “She was seen leaving with files and a laptop. She claims it had party information, but we think it had documentation for vote manipulation. That is what I-PAC does. We demand a case be registered against her and the police officials who were with her,” said CPIM politburo member and state secretary Md Selim.

Adhir Chowdhury, senior Congress leader and former Lok Sabha MP, alleged, “I-PAC is the eyes and ears of the TMC… When the ED harassed and insulted Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee did not react. But when I-PAC offices were raided, she rushed there.”

Samik Bhattacharya, the BJP state president, alleged, “Today she intervened in an ongoing investigation by a central agency in a criminal case. This amounts to the destruction of evidence, obstructing government officers from carrying out their duty, and trying to shield the accused. TMC leaders are involved in the coal scam.”