How the 5-hour Mamata-ED drama unfolded – from Loudon Street to Salt Lake

A pile of documents seized after Enforcement Directorate conducts a raid at the office of the Indian Political Action Committee, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI Video Grab)

While ED officials were inside the office carrying out searches, a massive crowd of TMC supporters and prominent leaders began to swell outside the building.

TMC leaders, including Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation councillor Debraj Chakraborty, MLA Sujit Bose, and Sabyasachi Dutta, arrived to surround the elevator.

In a highly unusual scene, TMC supporters effectively guarded five of the elevators, restricting access to anyone other than police or party members.

Other IT employees working in the building were diverted to different elevator banks, and several elevators to the 11th floor were reportedly shut down or required special permission to operate. Inside the restricted area, supporters were seen coordinating a continuous supply of water and tea for those standing guard.

CM Mamata Banerjee at IPAC office at Godrej waterside , Saltlake sector. (Express photo by Partha Paul)

Addressing the mediapersons, from the building’s basement, a visibly charged TMC supremo launched a scathing attack on the BJP and the central agency. She alleged that her party’s political strategies and “Strategic Information Report” (SIR) data had been “hijacked”. “They have transferred all our papers and data using a forensic team. All the tables are empty. This is a crime,” the CM said, accusing the ED of acting as a political tool to dismantle the TMC’s election preparedness.

She further alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah were attempting to “control” her through these raids, which she termed “undemocratic and unjust”.

By 4.46 pm, she left the I-PAC office for Babughat in Kolkata to inaugurate a transit camp for Gangasagar Mela.

Before leaving the I-PAC office, she said, “I will be back. Bengal will not tolerate this assault.”