Mamata Banerjee To Be Arrested? ED Seeks Calcutta HC Permission For Action Against Bengal CM After I-PAC Raid

The Enforcement Directorate has moved the Calcutta High Court after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached the home of Pratik Jain during an ongoing money laundering raid. The agency wants court permission to file a petition, claiming interference with its investigation and seeking protection to carry out searches without obstruction.

The matter was mentioned before Justice Suvra Ghosh, where the Enforcement Directorate counsel flagged Banerjee’s presence at the search site. According to the submission based on the PTI report, the agency has requested formal leave to place its complaint on record so the money laundering probe can continue smoothly.

Enforcement Directorate raids and money laundering probe details

On the same day, the Enforcement Directorate said it carried out coordinated searches at 10 premises linked to its West Bengal money laundering case. Six locations were in West Bengal and four in Delhi. The list included the Kolkata office of Indian Political Action Committee and the residence of I-PAC co-founder and director Pratik Jain.

The Enforcement Directorate described the operations as part of an ongoing Prevention of Money Laundering Act investigation. Officials seized a large volume of files and digital records from the searched places. Images from the I-PAC office in Kolkata showed heaps of documents stacked after the raid, according to visuals shared by ANI.

Mamata Banerjee, Enforcement Directorate and I-PAC raid flashpoint

Tension rose when Mamata Banerjee arrived at Jain’s south Kolkata residence while Enforcement Directorate officers were still searching the property. Banerjee accused the central agency of trying to take away Trinamool Congress material, including hard drives and confidential documents, which contained information related to the party’s election strategy and internal planning.

After leaving Jain’s home, Enforcement Directorate sources claimed Banerjee went to the I-PAC office at Salt Lake accompanied by aides and police. The agency later alleged before the Calcutta High Court that this visit also affected the search, as officers were still collecting evidence under the money laundering case linked to West Bengal.

Enforcement Directorate allegations on Mamata Banerjee and money laundering probe

In its version placed before the court, the Enforcement Directorate said Banerjee entered Jain’s home during the search and carried away important material. The agency alleged that key physical records and several electronic devices, which it described as evidence in the case, were removed while the raid was underway.

The Enforcement Directorate further told the court that Banerjee’s actions at both Jain’s residence and the I-PAC office, along with the presence of the Kolkata Police commissioner, created hurdles. According to the agency, these events resulted in "obstructions" to the Enforcement Directorate money laundering probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Enforcement Directorate clarification on politics, I-PAC and money laundering probe

I-PAC works as a political consultancy outfit for the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal and manages its information technology and media outreach. Because of that role, the raids triggered political debate. The Enforcement Directorate, however, denied that its actions were linked to party politics or upcoming elections in the state.

Responding to Banerjee’s charge that the operation was politically driven, the Enforcement Directorate said, "it is clarified that the search is evidence-based and not targeted at any political establishment. No party office has been searched." The agency insisted that its money laundering inquiry focused on individuals and entities under the PMLA framework.

Reinforcing its stand, the Enforcement Directorate added, "The search is not linked to any elections, and is part of a regular crackdown on money laundering. It is conducted strictly in accordance with the established legal safeguards," while the Calcutta High Court now considers the request to formally challenge the alleged interference in the ongoing probe.