ED raids IPAC chief Prateek Jain’s Kolkata apartment amid coal scandal probe; Mamata Banerjee visits, calls move politically motivated.

On Thursday, The Enforcement Directorate (ED) raided IPAC chief Prateek Jain’s apartment in Kolkata as part of its ongoing investigation into the coal scandal. The operation coincided with increased political tensions in West Bengal, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) at the center of the debate.

Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, came at the IPAC office, her party’s political consultancy, immediately after the raid began. She was seen leaving the premises with a file. Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said that the raid was politically motivated. She stated that this is all at the request of the Home Minister. Information about my party is being gathered.

TMC Chief Issues Political Alarm

Banerjee’s visit to the office emphasized her strong opposition to the ED move, which she described as a targeted attempt to obtain information about West Bengal’s ruling party.

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According to sources, the TMC intends to raise the issue in both state and national forums, citing worries about central overreach and the misuse of investigative agencies.

After visiting I-PAC’s Salt Lake headquarters during the ED searches, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated she had challenged the BJP to compete with the Trinamool Congress politically if it wanted to win the state. Banerjee claimed that the TMC was a registered political party that paid income taxes, and that the Centre could not repress it through money or force.

BJP responds with accusations.

In a rapid response, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari accused Mamata Banerjee of interfering with the operations of central agencies. He stated, “Mamata Banerjee is violating the Constitution.” She is meddling with the operations of central agencies.”

Adhikari said that Banerjee’s presence at the raid site obstructed the ongoing inquiry. He noted that in 2021, she staged a protest outside the CBI office, which he described as another example of her direct intervention with constitutional institutions.

He went on to say that such activities were unacceptable for someone in the position of Chief Minister, who is both a political leader and the head of the state’s administration. Adhikari ended by stating that the Enforcement Directorate, as empowered by law, would take appropriate action against Banerjee for her actions.