Mamata Banerjee lodges complaint over ED raids on I-PAC office and Pratik Jain’s residence

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee on Friday lodged formal complaints in connection with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids conducted at the office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its chief Pratik Jain.

Following her complaint, separate FIRs have been registered at Kolkata and Bidhannagar police stations, and investigations have been initiated. The ED had carried out searches on Thursday at Pratik Jain’s residence on Loudon Street and the I-PAC office located in Salt Lake.

Jain also serves as the head of the TMC’s IT cell, making the raids politically sensitive and triggering sharp reactions from the ruling party in West Bengal. According to sources, Mamata Banerjee personally visited the raid locations during the ED operation.

It is alleged that crucial documents and electronic devices were seized from the premises as part of the central agency’s probe. The dramatic developments further escalated tensions between the TMC and central investigative agencies.

In her complaint, Mamata accused ED officials and CRPF personnel of misconduct during the raid. She filed a complaint against ED officers and CRPF staff at the Shakespeare Sarani police station, while a separate complaint was lodged at the Bidhannagar police station against the ED investigating officer who was conducting searches at the Electronic Complex area.

The TMC has strongly criticised the ED action, terming it politically motivated and an attempt to intimidate individuals associated with the party. Party leaders alleged that central agencies are being misused to target political opponents, especially ahead of key political developments.

Adding to the confrontation, the TMC has moved the Calcutta High Court challenging the ED raids. The party’s petition questions the legality and intent of the searches, arguing that the actions amount to harassment and overreach by the central agency.

The ED, however, has maintained that the raids are part of an ongoing investigation and were conducted in accordance with the law. Officials have not publicly commented on Mamata Banerjee’s complaints or the FIRs registered against ED personnel.

The episode has once again brought to the fore the growing friction between the West Bengal government and central agencies, with the latest developments likely to have significant political and legal ramifications in the days ahead.

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