/industry-wired/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/04/2024-12-04t130344212z-iw-new.png)
/industry-wired/media/agency_attachments/2024/12/04/2024-12-04t130332454z-iw-new.jpg)
/industry-wired/media/media_files/2026/01/09/3-officers-dozens-of-copsmamata-allegedly-blocks-ed-raid-central-agency-approaches-hc-2026-01-09-17-35-14.jpg)
/industry-wired/media/member_avatars/2025/09/08/2025-09-08t141648584z-image-3-2025-09-08-19-46-50.jpg)
Mamata Blocked ED Raid? Sources Detail I-PAC Operation Stalled by Heavy Police Presence
A fresh political storm has erupted after sources claimed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blocked an ED raid on the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). The sources claimed that the CM has personally taken away the phone of an I-PAC official, and police officers blocked the central agency’s operation.
Mamata Banerjee Blocks the ED Raid
Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (January 8, 2026) allegedly intervened during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the premises of I-PAC. This development comes after high drama unfolded in Kolkata as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out raids linked to political consultancy firm I-PAC as a part of a money laundering probe.
It prompted a sharp confrontation by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who accused the central agency of stealing Trinamool Congress (TMC) party documents.
According to sources, the Chief Minister reached the premises while the raid was underway. They claim that Banerjee herself took away the mobile phone of Pratik Jain, an I-PAC official, during the incident.
Sources further said that the West Bengal Director General of Police, who was also present at the spot, instructed the ED officials not to record anything. The DGP allegedly told the three ED officers that they should show no recovery from the raid.
ED sources claimed that the situation escalated into an overwhelming show of force, with three ED officials facing dozens of police personnel and Z-category security officials deployed for the Chief Minister.
They alleged that the officers were intimidated and pressured to ensure that no details of the incident were reflected in the official report.
According to the sources, the DGP also allegedly warned the ED team that an FIR would be registered against them and that they would be arrested.
ED Moves to High Court
The ED has gone to the High Court, alleging that Banerjee. The Trinamool Congress has also gone to court against the ED. A hearing is likely to be held on Friday (January 9, 2026).
Reactions from Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee strongly denied the ED’s version of events. She claimed the ED was attempting to seize internal data, hard disks, and strategy documents related to the Trinamool Congress’s election planning.
"They came to collect our party's hard disk, candidate list, party strategy and party plan. Is it the duty of ED and Amit Shah"? she said.
She maintained that she was “bringing back” her party’s documents, which, she argued, had no relevance to the ED’s case.
"In the name of SIR, 1.5 crore voters have been deleted. If you have the courage, fight with us electorally Amit Shah ji," CM added.
Statement from ED
"The search action was undertaken in a peaceful manner, till the arrival of Chief Minister of West Bengal along with police personnel and officers of West Bengal administration, who forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidences in two of the premises," the ED statement read.
"The CPA's convoy then proceeded to I-PAC's office premises, from where Ms Banerjee. her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidences. The above actions have resulted in obstruction in ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA," the statement added.
“No party office has been searched. The search is not linked to any elections and is part of regular crackdown on money laundering. The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement.
Final Thoughts
According to the ED, its investigation has revealed that a coal smuggling syndicate was involved in illegal excavation and theft of coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited's leasehold areas in West Bengal. The ED also claimed that one hawala operator facilitated transactions involving tens of crores of rupees to I-PAC.
I-PAC is the political consultancy firm started by Prashant Kishor. The company worked as the political consultants of Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress since the 2021 assembly elections. After the 2021 election, they extended their contract till 2026. I-PAC also manages the party's IT and media operations.