The development came after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Prateek Jain’s residence during the raids and took away some documents.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks to the media outside the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain amid an ongoing ED search, in Kolkata, Thursday, January 8, 2026. (Photo: IANS)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging illegal interference during its search operation at the residence of Prateek Jain, the head of political consultancy I-PAC and Trinamool Congress IT chief, in connection with an alleged coal scam. The matter is scheduled to be heard by Justice Suvra Ghosh on Friday.
The development comes after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached Jain’s residence during the raids and took away some documents.
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The Enforcement Directorate alleged that CM Banerjee, along with Kolkata Police officials, obstructed the raids and forcibly removed key physical documents and electronic evidence.
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“Proceedings were being conducted in a peaceful and professional manner till the arrival of West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, along with a large number of police officials. Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices. The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Banerjee, her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidence,” the ED said in a statement.
The central probe agency claimed that the Bengal Chief Minister’s actions resulted in “obstruction in ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA.”
The agency also clarified that the search operation was being carried out based on evidence and that it was not aimed at any political establishment.
“No party office has been searched. The search is not linked to any elections, and is part of a regular crackdown on money laundering. The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards,” the probe agency said.
It said that the raids were based on a CBI case filed against one Anup Majee and others in 2020 in connection with a coal smuggling syndicate.
I-PAC raids: Mamata alleges TMC ‘IT office’ targeted; ED claims CM took away documents, moves HC
“Investigation revealed that large part of this coal was sold to the Shakambhari Group of companies. Investigation revealed a link with Hawala operators as well. Multiple pieces of evidence, including statements of various persons, confirmed the hawala nexus. Investigation revealed that one hawala operator linked to layering of proceeds of crime of coal smuggling had facilitated transactions of Tens of Crores of Rupees to Indian Pac Consulting Private Limited. The persons linked to generation of coal smuggling proceeds, hawala operators and handlers are covered in the PMLA search on 08.01.2026. IPAC is also one of the entities linked to Hawala money,” the ED said.
What Mamata Banerjee said on ED raids at I-PAC head Prateek Jain’s residence
Speaking to reporters after the controversy, CM Banerjee claimed that the probe agency was confiscating details about TMC candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections.
“They have raided the residence of our IT chief. They were confiscating my party’s documents and hard disks, which has details about our candidates for the assembly polls. I have brought those back,” she told reporters.
The Bengal CM targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that her party’s documents were being seized in view of the West Bengal Assembly elections later this year.
“Is it the duty of Home Minister Amit Shah and the ED to take away all my party documents? If I go to the BJP party office, what will be the result? Under the SIR, 5 lakh names have been deleted. Just because there is an election, they are taking away all my party’s documents,” Banerjee added.
She said that her government could also order raids at the BJP party offices, but she chose to exercise restraint. “What will happen if we reciprocate this ED search by raiding the BJP party offices in Bengal? We are exercising restraint.”
“If you (BJP) cannot fight with us, then why are you coming to Bengal?” Banerjee asked, as she challenged the BJP to defeat her in “a democratic way”.
CM Banerjee is also likely to lead a protest in Kolkata tomorrow, following the ED raids at the IPAC office.
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