Mamata Banerjee Slams ED Over Raid at I-PAC Chief’s House: Claims TMC Internal Data Targeted

​Politics in West Bengal has reached a boiling point once again. On Thursday, January 8, 2026, the streets of Kolkata witnessed high-voltage drama as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee personally intervened during an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid. The target of the search was the residence of Pratik Jain, the chief of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC).

​For those who follow Bengal politics, I-PAC is much more than a consultancy firm; it is the strategic brain behind the Trinamool Congress (TMC). Mamata Banerjee wasted no time in reaching the spot, alleging that the central agency was not looking for financial irregularities but was actually trying to steal her party’s internal data, candidate lists, and secret election strategies.

​A Dramatic Confrontation in South Kolkata

​The incident began early in the morning when ED teams arrived at Pratik Jain’s residence on Loudon Street. Simultaneously, searches were carried out at the I-PAC corporate office in Salt Lake’s Sector V. By noon, the situation turned into a full-blown political standoff.

​Mamata Banerjee arrived at the residence accompanied by senior police officials, including the Kolkata Police Commissioner. This was a rare and bold move for a sitting Chief Minister. She stayed inside for about twenty minutes and emerged holding a green folder and a laptop. She told the waiting media that she had to "rescue" her party’s documents before they could be taken away by the central agency. According to the Chief Minister, the ED was trying to "loot" information that has nothing to do with any legal investigation.

​What Was the ED Looking For?

​The central agency has officially stated that these raids are part of a money laundering probe linked to a fake government job scam and coal smuggling cases. They allege that proceeds from these crimes were funneled into I-PAC during past election campaigns, including the Goa assembly polls.

​However, Mamata Banerjee has a very different take. She pointed out that I-PAC manages the TMC’s IT cell and media operations. By raiding the house of the person she calls her "IT chief," she believes the central government is trying to gain an unfair advantage ahead of upcoming polls. She asked a sharp question to the media: "Is it the duty of the ED to collect political party data, candidate lists, and internal strategy?"

​The Allegation of Data Theft and Forensic Misuse

​One of the most serious claims made by the Chief Minister is that the ED brought forensic experts to transfer digital data from I-PAC’s servers. She alleged that they were copying hard disks that contain confidential details about TMC’s organizational structure and future plans.

​Mamata Banerjee argued that if the agency wanted financial details, they could have easily approached the Income Tax department. Instead, she claims they used a "fake case" as a pretext to enter the office and take away strategic information. She described the action as "unconstitutional" and a "direct attack on the privacy of a political party." In her eyes, this is not a search for black money but a search for political secrets.

​A Bitter War of Words with the Center

​As is often the case in Bengal, the battle quickly became a direct clash with the Union Home Ministry. Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering attack on Home Minister Amit Shah, calling the raids an act of "political vendetta." She accused the Center of using muscle power and central agencies because they cannot defeat the TMC politically on the ground.

​She even went as far as to issue a "big dare" to the BJP. She asked what would happen if her state police decided to reciprocate by raiding the BJP’s party offices in Bengal. She mentioned that her government is "exercising restraint," but warned that such "intimidation tactics" would not be tolerated forever. The TMC has already announced statewide protest marches to condemn what they call the "ED loot" of their party documents.

​The ED’s Counter-Charge: Obstruction of Justice

​The central agency has not stayed silent in the face of these allegations. In a statement released later that evening, the ED claimed that the Chief Minister "intruded illegally" into a crime scene. They alleged that Mamata Banerjee and her aides "forcibly removed" key evidence, including physical files and electronic devices, while the search was still in progress.

​The agency has now moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging that the state government and the police obstructed their legal duties. According to the ED, the presence of the Chief Minister at the site of a raid is a misuse of constitutional authority. They maintain that the search was "evidence-based" and had nothing to do with politics or elections.

​Why This Matters for the Future of Bengal

​This incident is more than just a typical raid; it represents a deep breakdown of trust between the state and the central government. When a Chief Minister personally goes to a site to prevent a central agency from taking files, it highlights how polarized the political environment has become.

​For the TMC, this is about protecting their "intellectual property"—the data and strategies that help them win elections. For the ED, it is about following a money trail that they believe leads to I-PAC’s doors. As the case moves to the High Court, the focus will be on whether a central agency has the right to seize political strategy documents under the guise of a financial probe, and whether a Chief Minister has the right to intervene.

​Conclusion: A Legal and Political Standoff

​The battle lines are now clearly drawn. On one side, we have an agency claiming it is doing its job to fight corruption. On the other, we have a state government claiming that the agency is being used as a tool for "data espionage."

​The upcoming protests across West Bengal suggest that this issue will not die down anytime soon. Whether the green folder Mamata Banerjee carried out contains "party secrets" or "evidence" is something the courts will likely have to decide. For now, the people of Bengal are witnessing a unprecedented clash that could change the way central agencies and state governments interact in the future.