Ashhar Alam

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday exchanged sharp accusations over the Enforcement Directorate’s raids on the premises of poll strategist I-PAC, with the ruling party alleging political targeting ahead of elections and the opposition accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of obstructing central investigations.

The political confrontation unfolded as the Supreme Court termed the ED’s allegation that the chief minister caused “obstruction” to its probe as a serious matter, and agreed to examine whether state law-enforcement agencies can interfere with investigations conducted by central agencies into major offences.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the party would refrain from commenting on the legal aspects of the case, leaving it to senior counsel, but reiterated that the ED action was politically motivated and timed with the approaching assembly elections in West Bengal.

“The case dates back to 2020. Several years have passed. Why did the agency act now, just before elections?” Ghosh asked, questioning the timing of the raids.

He also raised concerns over the search at the residence of I-PAC director Pratik Jain, noting that no such action was taken earlier despite the case being registered years ago. Ghosh pointed out that when the case was filed, election strategist Prashant Kishor was associated with the party, yet his premises were never raided.

“Pratik Jain is currently involved in our election planning and campaign strategy. Campaign-related data and planning materials may be present at his office or residence,” Ghosh alleged, claiming the raids were aimed at disrupting the party’s electoral preparations.

Accusing the BJP of misusing central agencies, the TMC leader said the ED action amounted to a “political search” intended to interfere with the party’s campaign. He asserted that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had opposed such moves and was committed to safeguarding the party’s organisational and informational resources.

The BJP strongly refuted the allegations, with Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accusing Banerjee of making repeated and deliberate attempts to obstruct the functioning of central investigative agencies.

Shekhawat claimed that the chief minister personally visited the I-PAC office during the ED raid and that senior state police officials reached the spot even before her, which he described as a clear attempt to interfere with the operation.

“Political differences are natural in a democracy, but undermining constitutional institutions is unacceptable,” Shekhawat said, adding that weakening such institutions amounted to an assault on democratic norms.

He further alleged that Banerjee’s conduct during the I-PAC raid was part of a pattern, recalling a 2019 incident when the chief minister visited the residence of the then Kolkata Police Commissioner during a CBI raid.

Referring to cases such as Sandeshkhali and investigations linked to centrally funded schemes, the Union minister alleged that the West Bengal government had repeatedly tried to impede or influence probes into alleged corruption.

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“These actions are wholly unacceptable,” he said.

The political standoff comes amid the Supreme Court’s decision to stay the FIR filed by the West Bengal government against ED officials involved in the January 8 raids at the I-PAC office and Pratik Jain’s residence. The apex court has also directed the state police to preserve CCTV footage of the searches.