{"id":27284,"date":"2026-01-08T10:59:40","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:59:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/08\/high-drama-over-i-pac-raids-mamata-banerjee-alleges-strategy-theft-ed-says-she-obstructed-probe-politics-news\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T10:59:40","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T10:59:40","slug":"high-drama-over-i-pac-raids-mamata-banerjee-alleges-strategy-theft-ed-says-she-obstructed-probe-politics-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/08\/high-drama-over-i-pac-raids-mamata-banerjee-alleges-strategy-theft-ed-says-she-obstructed-probe-politics-news\/","title":{"rendered":"High Drama Over I-PAC Raids: Mamata Banerjee Alleges Strategy Theft, ED Says She Obstructed Probe | Politics News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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The agency says the raids are linked to a money laundering probe into a coal smuggling syndicate and are unrelated to the upcoming Bengal elections<\/h2>\n
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Banerjee slammed the raids as a ‘nasty’ attempt at political vendetta. (File photo)<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Enforcement Directorate\u2019s search operations<\/a> in West Bengal and Delhi have sparked a massive political confrontation between the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre. Here are the key points of the developing story:<\/p>\n

1. Massive Multi-City Crackdown: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched simultaneous search operations at 10 premises across West Bengal and Delhi. The agency says the raids are linked to a money laundering probe into a coal smuggling syndicate allegedly led by Anup Majee, involving the illegal excavation of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) leasehold areas.<\/p>\n

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ED Headquarters Unit is conducting search action at 10 premises (6 in West Bengal and 4 in Delhi) under PMLA in connection with coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee used to steal and illegally excavate coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal. The search action was\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/ab7PCReiJo<\/a>\u2014 ED (@dir_ed) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

2. Focus on I-PAC and Pratik Jain: Significant targets of the search included the Salt Lake office of the political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its chief, Pratik Jain. Jain is a key strategist for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and currently oversees the party\u2019s IT operations.<\/p>\n

3. CM\u2019s Direct Confrontation: In a dramatic escalation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally visited the raid sites. Accompanied by senior police personnel and state officials, the Chief Minister\u2019s presence led to a tense standoff with central agency officials.<\/p>\n

4. Allegations of Evidence Seizure: The ED issued a statement on X alleging that the Chief Minister and state police \u201cforcibly removed” physical documents and electronic evidence, including hard disks, from two of the searched premises, disrupting the legal process.<\/p>\n

5. \u2018Political Vendetta\u2019 Claims: Banerjee slammed the raids as a \u201cnasty” attempt at political vendetta. She accused the Centre of using the ED to sabotage her party\u2019s election preparations, claiming the agency was specifically targeting her \u201cIT office” and sensitive strategy data.<\/p>\n

6. Mamata Banerjee Targets Amit Shah: The Chief Minister directed her ire at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, labelling him the \u201cnaughtiest and nastiest” Home Minister. She questioned whether it was the duty of a central agency to collect a rival party\u2019s candidate lists and internal policy documents.<\/p>\n

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When @BJP4India<\/a> knows it will lose Bengal, it unleashes ED.This is @AmitShah<\/a>\u2018s politics: fear, force, and files.<\/p>\n

His desperation is exposed.<\/p>\n

If you have guts, come to the people.FIGHT US POLITICALLY!<\/p>\n

Not through central agencies acting as your puppets.<\/p>\n

Bengal is not\u2026 https:\/\/t.co\/KRGFm42qcC<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) January 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

7. The SIR Controversy: During her media address, Banerjee linked the raids to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bengal. She alleged that while voter names were being deleted on one side, the ED was being used to \u201cloot” party information on the other.<\/p>\n

8. ED\u2019s Clarification: The agency has maintained that the searches are strictly \u201cevidence-based” and not targeted at any political establishment or party office. They clarified that the crackdown is part of a regular money laundering investigation and is unrelated to upcoming elections.<\/p>\n

9. Akhilesh Yadav Reacts: The Samajwadi Party chief, who is known to be a close ally of Mamata Banerjee, posted on X, \u201cBJP is badly losing in Bengal. First sign!”<\/p>\n

10. Suvendu Adhikari Demands Legal Action: Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, condemned the Chief Minister\u2019s intervention as an unconstitutional obstruction of justice. He has demanded legal action against her for interfering with a federal agency\u2019s functioning and protecting a private consultancy firm.<\/p>\n

11. Questions over \u2018Voter Lists\u2019: Adhikari further challenged the TMC leadership to explain why \u201cvoter lists” and sensitive party data were found at the office of I-PAC, questioning the legality of a private firm holding such information.<\/p>\n

First Published:<\/span><\/p>\n
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January 08, 2026, 16:26 IST<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

News<\/a> politics<\/a> High Drama Over I-PAC Raids: Mamata Banerjee Alleges Strategy Theft, ED Says She Obstructed Probe<\/span><\/div>\n
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