Trinamool Congress Challenges ED Raids in Calcutta High Court

The Trinamool Congress and I-PAC have approached the Calcutta High Court to contest the Enforcement Directorate's recent searches at their offices. The central agency is investigating alleged money laundering, while TMC leader Mamata Banerjee claims the raids are politically motivated. Banerjee plans to lead a protest against these actions, asserting that the ED is unlawfully seizing party documents ahead of upcoming elections. This legal battle unfolds as West Bengal prepares for its Assembly polls in the coming months, raising questions about the intersection of politics and law enforcement in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 9, 2026, 10:33 IST

Legal Action Against Enforcement Directorate

On Thursday, the Trinamool Congress, alongside the political consultancy I-PAC, filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court contesting the legality of the Enforcement Directorate's searches at various locations associated with the firm in Kolkata and Bidhannagar, as reported by a local news outlet.

Earlier that day, the Enforcement Directorate also sought the court's intervention, claiming that there was 'illegal interference' during their search operations. The court is set to hear the case on Friday.

The central agency conducted searches at I-PAC’s office located in Salt Lake, the residence of its head Pratik Jain, and a trader's office in Posta, all part of an investigation into suspected money laundering activities.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee visited Jain’s residence while the search was ongoing, staying for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. She emerged with a green file, alleging that officials were seizing documents related to the party ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

Banerjee is scheduled to lead a protest in Kolkata on Friday against the Enforcement Directorate's actions, as reported by a news agency.

She questioned, 'Is it the responsibility of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the ED to confiscate all my party documents?' and added, 'What would happen if I visited the Bharatiya Janata Party office?'

I-PAC, established by political strategist Prashant Kishor, previously managed the TMC's successful campaign during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. The state is anticipated to hold elections in the next three to four months.

The Enforcement Directorate accused Banerjee of entering Jain’s home and removing 'key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.'

The agency stated that the searches were conducted in a 'peaceful manner' until Banerjee's arrival, asserting that the operation was evidence-based and not aimed at any political party, and clarified that no party office had been searched.

The searches were initiated based on a first information report from the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding an alleged coal smuggling syndicate involved in the illegal excavation of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited leasehold areas in West Bengal.

Banerjee claimed that the ED was seizing documents and hard drives containing information about the party's candidates for the Assembly elections, stating, 'I have retrieved those documents.'

She further alleged that the ED had raided her IT sector office and searched the residence of the individual responsible for her IT operations.