ED Seeks CBI Probe Against Mamata Banerjee, Top Police Officials in I-PAC Raid Case
Enforcement Directorate approaches Calcutta High Court alleging obstruction during searches linked to coal scam money laundering probe
New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has approached the Calcutta High Court, seeking a CBI investigation into the alleged role of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, senior police officials, and others for purportedly obstructing raids conducted against political consultancy firm I-PAC and its director in Kolkata.
According to a report by PTI, which reviewed the federal agency’s writ petition, the ED has also sought immediate directions for the seizure, sealing, forensic preservation, and restoration to ED’s lawful custody of all digital devices, electronic records, storage media, and documents that were allegedly “illegally and forcibly” removed from the search premises.
The High Court is expected to hear the petition on Friday.
The searches were carried out on Thursday at I-PAC’s Salt Lake office and at premises linked to Pratik Gandhi, one of the firm’s founders and directors, in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to the coal scam. Raids were also conducted at multiple other locations in West Bengal and Delhi.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, the ED alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee entered a residence on Loudon Road in Kolkata during the operation and “took away crucial evidence.” Similar allegations were made regarding her presence at the I-PAC office during the search.
In its petition, the ED claimed that approximately ₹20 crore in hawala funds, generated from alleged coal theft in West Bengal, had reached I-PAC. The organisation has been providing political consultancy services to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the state government since 2021.
“Concrete evidence gathered during the investigation indicates that proceeds of crime amounting to at least ₹20 crore were transferred to I-PAC through hawala channels,” the petition stated.
It further said that to continue the investigation and trace the proceeds of crime and their utilisation, search actions were initiated against I-PAC and certain other entities in the coal smuggling case.
The ED alleged that despite a clear request by its officers that no interference be made during the search proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Chief Minister entered the premises.
“However, in complete violation of law and order, Ms Mamata Banerjee, with the assistance of police personnel, forcibly took possession of all digital devices and important documents from the custody of the authorised officer and left the premises at around 12:15 pm,” the petition claimed.
The agency further alleged that the ‘panch’ (independent) witness was “virtually hijacked” by the respondents—including the State of West Bengal, the Chief Minister, and others—and made to record that the search was conducted peacefully and nothing was recovered. In contrast, the ED said the correct position was that digital devices and crucial documents were forcibly taken away by the Chief Minister with the help of state police.
The ED also claimed that its officers were prevented from performing their lawful duties.
Additionally, the agency has urged the High Court to pass an interim order restraining any access to, deletion, cloning, or tampering with the seized digital devices and electronic records.
