In West Bengal, ED raided the premises of I-PAC director Prateek Jain on Thursday (January 8, 2025) in connection with the coal scam case, after which politics heated up across the country. During this time, Kolkata Police Commissioner reached Prateek’s house and after some time CM Mamata Banerjee herself reached there. After this, Bengal gradually became a political arena. Meanwhile, I-PAC issued a statement calling it unfortunate.
I-PAC said, ‘ED officials conducted searches on January 8, 2026 at the I-PAC office and the Kolkata residence of our director Prateek Jain. It was a difficult and unfortunate day for a professional organization like I-PAC. This action was quite worrying, but still we gave full cooperation to the investigating agency and will do so in future also while respecting the legal process. We have always maintained honesty in our work. Despite whatever happened the day before, we will continue to do our work with continuity and accountability without any worries.
When Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee came out during the ED action, she had a green file in her hand. ED accused CM Mamata of forcibly snatching files. Mamata Banerjee on Friday alleged that the purpose of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid on the I-PAC office was to steal the internal strategy of Trinamool Congress ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
CM Mamata Banerjee said, ‘If someone tries to kill me, don’t I have the right to defend myself? If I don’t have a party then how will I fight for the people? He alleged that the money transactions in the coal scam took place through traitors. He was clearly referring to the former Trinamool leaders who joined BJP.
Calcutta High Court on Friday adjourned the hearing of petitions related to the raids conducted by ED at the office of political consultancy firm ‘I-PACK’ and the residence of its director Prateek Jain due to uncontrolled crowd in the court room. Justice Shubhra Ghosh repeatedly urged those present in the court, who were not associated with these petitions, to leave. However, his request had no effect on the people in the crowd. After this, the hearing on the petitions was postponed till January 14.
(This story is being updated…)
