Trinamool Congress MPs Detained Amid Protests Against ED Raids in West Bengal

Trinamool Congress MPs faced detention by Delhi Police during a protest against alleged illegal searches by the Enforcement Directorate in West Bengal. The party condemned the police's actions as undemocratic, while the ED conducted searches linked to a money laundering investigation. The situation escalated as the party's leaders, including Mahua Moitra and Derek O’Brien, were forcibly removed from the protest site. With upcoming elections in West Bengal, tensions rise as the party accuses the ED of targeting their internal documents. This unfolding drama highlights the ongoing political strife in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 9, 2026, 13:28 IST

Protests Erupt Over ED Raids

On Friday, the Delhi Police took into custody several Trinamool Congress MPs who were demonstrating outside the office of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The MPs were protesting against what they claim were unlawful searches conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at various sites in West Bengal, including the office of the political consultancy I-PAC the previous day.

The Trinamool Congress criticized the police's actions, describing the forceful removal of eight MPs from their peaceful demonstration outside the Central Secretariat as 'undemocratic, unconstitutional, and shameful.'

Among those detained were Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra and Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien, as shown in a video shared on social media. The detained MPs were subsequently taken to the Parliament Street police station.

The ruling party in West Bengal expressed on social media, 'This is a blatant attack on democracy and the Constitution. Such reckless use of force is driven solely by the BJP's fear.'

Following the ED's raids, the Trinamool Congress and I-PAC filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court on Thursday, contesting the legality of the searches conducted at various locations associated with the consultancy in Kolkata and Bidhannagar.

I-PAC has been instrumental in managing the Trinamool Congress's election campaigns, including during the 2021 Assembly elections.

The ED also approached the High Court, alleging 'illegal interference' during its search operations. The case is set to be heard on Friday.

On Thursday, the central law enforcement agency executed searches at I-PAC's office in Kolkata's Salt Lake area, the residence of its head Pratik Jain, and the office of a trader in the Posta neighborhood, as part of an investigation into suspected money laundering.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at Jain's residence while the search was ongoing, staying for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. She emerged with a green file, claiming that officials from the central agency were 'taking away' party documents ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The state is anticipated to hold elections in the next three to four months.

Banerjee accused the ED of seizing the TMC's 'documents and hard disks, which contain information about our party candidates' for the elections.

The ED countered, asserting that Banerjee had entered Jain's residence and removed 'key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices.'

The agency maintained that the searches were conducted in a 'peaceful manner' until Banerjee's arrival and emphasized that the 'search is evidence-based and not aimed at any political establishment,' clarifying that no party office had been searched.

The searches were initiated based on a first information report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation regarding an alleged coal smuggling syndicate involved in 'stealing and illegally excavating coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited leasehold areas in West Bengal,' according to the ED.