Political Tensions Rise in Kolkata Amid ED Raids on I-PAC
Political tensions reached a peak in Kolkata when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided the offices of I-PAC, leading to a dramatic confrontation with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Chief Minister accused the ED of attempting to seize sensitive party documents, claiming the raids were politically motivated. As the situation escalated, police intervened, and allegations of intimidation against ED officials emerged. Banerjee firmly denied the ED's claims, asserting that the documents in question were unrelated to any money laundering investigation. This incident highlights the ongoing political strife in West Bengal.
| Jan 9, 2026, 15:01 IST
Political Drama Unfolds in Kolkata
On Thursday, political tensions escalated in Kolkata, West Bengal, when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids at the offices of the political consultancy firm I-PAC. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrived at the scene, leading to a dramatic confrontation. Sources indicate that she personally seized a phone from an I-PAC official, and police intervened to halt the central agency's operation.
This incident unfolded during a high-stakes drama in Kolkata, where the ED was investigating money laundering linked to I-PAC. Banerjee accused the central agency of stealing documents related to her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Reports suggest that she entered the premises during the raid and took the mobile phone of I-PAC official Prateek Jain.
According to sources, the Director General of Police (DGP) of West Bengal was present at the scene and instructed ED officials not to document anything in the panchnama. The DGP allegedly warned three ED officers that they should not show any recoveries from the raid, threatening them with arrest if they did otherwise.
The situation reportedly escalated into a significant display of power, with ED officials facing numerous police personnel and Z-category security officers assigned to the Chief Minister. They claimed that their officers were intimidated and pressured to omit details from the official report. Sources also mentioned that the DGP warned the ED team of potential FIRs and arrests.
The ED further alleged that independent witnesses present during the raid were harassed and intimidated by Kolkata police and members of the Chief Minister's staff. They stated that their officials faced coercion and threats throughout the operation, with pressure to alter official documents.
Mamata Banerjee Denies Allegations
In response, Mamata Banerjee categorically dismissed the ED's account of events. She claimed that the ED was attempting to seize internal data, hard drives, and strategic documents related to the TMC's election plans, which she asserted had no connection to any money laundering investigation. Banerjee labeled the raids as politically motivated, describing them as unconstitutional attempts to confiscate party data. She stated that she was in the process of retrieving her party's documents, which she insisted were unrelated to the ED's case.