ED Raids I-PAC Offices in Kolkata Trigger Political Storm, Mamata Banerjee Moves Files and Legal Battle Reaches High Court

Kolkata witnessed intense political and administrative drama on January 8, 2026, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at premises linked to the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), a political consultancy closely associated with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). What began as a routine enforcement action quickly escalated into a major confrontation involving West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, allegations of obstruction, and competing legal claims that have now landed before the Calcutta High Court.

The incident has not only sharpened the confrontation between the state government and central agencies but has also added fuel to the broader debate over federalism, institutional authority, and the use of investigative agencies during election years.

Mamata Banerjee claimed that the raid was politically motivated and engineered by the BJP | Moneycontrol

ED Action Linked to Money Laundering Probe

The Enforcement Directorate carried out coordinated searches at multiple locations in Kolkata and Delhi, including I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake Sector V and the residence of its director, Pratik Jain. According to the ED, the searches were conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as part of an ongoing probe into alleged proceeds of crime linked to a multi-crore coal smuggling syndicate.

The agency has stated that financial trails and hawala-linked transactions led investigators to individuals and entities connected to I-PAC, prompting the searches. The ED maintained that the operation was lawful, evidence-based, and unrelated to political activity or electoral strategy.

Mamata Banerjee’s Intervention at Raid Sites

The situation escalated dramatically when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the locations where the raids were underway. Visuals from the scene showed her leaving the premises with files and electronic devices, an act that immediately drew the attention of the central agency.

The ED alleged that Banerjee, accompanied by state police officials, forcibly removed documents and digital material that were part of the search process, thereby obstructing a lawful investigation. Terming the act unprecedented, the agency moved the Calcutta High Court, seeking protection for its officers and judicial intervention to prevent further interference.

TMC Rejects Allegations, Calls Raids Politically Motivated

The Trinamool Congress has categorically denied the ED’s allegations. Mamata Banerjee accused the central agency of attempting to seize confidential political material, including internal party strategy documents, candidate lists, and election-related data. She asserted that the files and devices taken by her belonged to the party and I-PAC’s political planning work and had no connection with any alleged money laundering case.

Banerjee described the ED action as an abuse of power and a deliberate attempt to intimidate the ruling party ahead of upcoming elections. The TMC has argued that election strategy and political consultancy work fall outside the ambit of financial crime investigations under the PMLA.

Legal Battle Moves to Calcutta High Court

The confrontation quickly took a legal turn, with both sides approaching the Calcutta High Court. The ED’s petition alleges obstruction of duty and seeks judicial directions to ensure the integrity of its investigation. In parallel, the TMC and I-PAC have challenged the legality of the raids, claiming violations of fundamental rights and misuse of central authority.

The state government has also registered FIRs against ED officials and central armed police personnel, accusing them of illegal search and seizure. The High Court is expected to play a crucial role in determining the legality of the raids and the competing claims surrounding the seized material.

Political Reactions and Public Mobilisation

The episode has triggered strong political reactions across party lines. The Bharatiya Janata Party accused Mamata Banerjee of interfering with an ongoing investigation and undermining the rule of law. Meanwhile, opposition leaders and civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about the timing of the raids and the broader implications for democratic processes.

Mamata Banerjee announced protest marches in Kolkata, positioning the issue as a fight against central overreach. Thousands of party supporters took to the streets, turning the enforcement action into a mass political mobilisation that has further polarised the state’s political landscape.

The MGMM Outlook

The Enforcement Directorate’s raids on I-PAC-linked premises in Kolkata have exposed a troubling pattern of political interference by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. What should have remained a lawful investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act escalated into a dramatic confrontation when the Chief Minister personally appeared at the raid sites and removed files and electronic devices. Such actions raise serious questions about respect for institutional authority and the rule of law. The ED’s claim that these materials were part of an ongoing probe linked to a multi-crore coal smuggling network makes the intervention appear less like political resistance and more like an attempt to shield individuals and entities from scrutiny.

Mamata Banerjee’s attempt to frame the raids as an assault on democracy and federalism diverts attention from the core issue—whether a sitting Chief Minister can obstruct a central investigation and later justify it as political self-defence. Registering FIRs against ED officials and mobilising street protests further politicises an already sensitive legal matter, creating pressure tactics rather than legal clarity. If election strategy documents were indeed separate, the appropriate course was judicial remedy, not physical removal during an active search. This episode reinforces concerns that governance in West Bengal increasingly blurs the line between political authority and institutional accountability, weakening public trust in both democratic processes and the impartial application of law.

(Sources: India Today, Moneycontrol, LiveMint)