Probe Agency Moves High Court, Alleges Mamata Banerjee Obstructed Investigation

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee allegedly walked out with a laptop, mobile phone and several documents during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the residence of Pratik Jain, chief of election consultancy I-PAC, the central agency has claimed.

The ED has approached the High Court, alleging that Banerjee, despite being a constitutional authority, “obstructed an ongoing investigation” and was “defending persons involved in coal smuggling and money laundering.” The court is expected to hear the matter tomorrow.

Banerjee has dismissed the allegations, calling the ED action politically motivated and engineered by the BJP. The agency, however, has denied any political targeting, asserting that the searches were “evidence-based” and conducted strictly in accordance with law.

“No party office has been searched. The action is not linked to elections and forms part of a regular crackdown on money laundering,” the ED said, adding that all legal safeguards were followed.

Separately, Jain’s family has lodged a police complaint accusing ED officials of stealing important documents during the raid, police sources said.

What Happened During the Search

According to the ED, its teams reached Jain’s residence at around 7.30 am. The operation, the agency said, proceeded peacefully until around noon, when state police personnel arrived, followed by the Chief Minister.

“The search action was conducted peacefully till the arrival of the Chief Minister along with police personnel and officers of the West Bengal administration, who forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence from two premises,” the ED alleged in a statement.

The agency further claimed that Banerjee, accompanied by her aides and police personnel, then proceeded to I-PAC’s office, from where documents and electronic devices were allegedly removed.

“These actions resulted in obstruction of the ongoing investigation and proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA),” the ED said.

The searches were conducted at 10 locations — six in West Bengal and four in Delhi — in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate linked to Anup Majee, involving illegal excavation and theft of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited leasehold areas.

Mamata Banerjee’s Response

Speaking to reporters outside Jain’s residence, Banerjee accused the ED of seizing party-related data, electronic devices, tax documents and bank details.

“They have taken our party data, laptop, iPhone and election strategy documents. This is an insult to the IT sector. Is this not a crime? I am waiting for justice,” she said.

The Chief Minister said I-PAC was an authorised consultancy working for her party and claimed the raid would disrupt election preparations ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls.

Calling the BJP a “killer of democracy,” Banerjee asked whether it would be acceptable for her to “raid their party office.”

She said she visited Jain’s residence after being unable to reach him by phone and learning about the ED presence.

Political Reactions

The incident triggered sharp reactions across the political spectrum.

BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said on X:
“When a Chief Minister personally removes ostensibly incriminating documents from premises being searched by the ED, she places herself above the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The Opposition countered swiftly. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi alleged that investigative agencies were being weaponised, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav claimed the action reflected the BJP’s electoral anxiety in West Bengal.

The Coal Smuggling Case

The ED has alleged that a coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee illegally mined and diverted coal from ECL leasehold areas, supplying it to industrial units across districts such as Bankura, Bardhaman and Purulia.

According to the agency, part of the illegally sourced coal was supplied to the Shakambhari Group, with proceeds allegedly laundered through a hawala network. Investigators claim that transactions worth several crores were routed to Indian Pac Consulting Private Limited (I-PAC), linking the firm to the alleged money trail.