Kolkata

Kolkata Police on Saturday initiated a probe to identify Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials allegedly involved in the removal of documents from the residence of I-PAC chief Pratik Jain and the political consultancy firm’s office, following the registration of FIRs in the case, a senior police officer said.

The police are also working to ascertain the identities of central agency personnel who were present at both locations during the search operations, the officer added.

As part of the investigation, personnel from Shakespeare Sarani Police Station visited Jain’s residence on Saturday morning and seized CCTV footage and DVR recordings. Statements of household staff and security personnel were also recorded. Once the identification process is completed, notices will be issued to those named in the case, the officer said.

The investigation was initiated after Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee lodged two police complaints on Friday against unknown ED officials in connection with raids conducted at the I-PAC office and Jain’s residence.

Based on the complaints, FIRs were registered by Kolkata Police and Bidhannagar Police, and formal investigations were launched. Banerjee filed complaints against unidentified ED officials and CRPF personnel at Shakespeare Sarani Police Station regarding the search at Jain’s Loudon Street residence, and against unknown ED officials at the Electronic Complex Police Station under Bidhannagar Police concerning the raid at the I-PAC office in Salt Lake.

At Shakespeare Sarani Police Station, cases were registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal intimidation, theft and criminal trespass, along with Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, which pertains to computer-related offences such as unauthorised access and data theft. A suo motu case was also registered at the same police station late on Thursday night.

According to the police, the ED conducted a search at Jain’s Loudon Street apartment at around 6.15 am on Thursday, but local police were informed about the operation nearly five hours later through an email.

When police officers, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (South), reached the spot to verify the search, they were allegedly obstructed by ED and CRPF personnel. The officer claimed that police were blocked from entering the premises and that batons were raised during the confrontation.

The probe follows allegations by the TMC leadership that documents linked to party election strategy and electronic data were taken during the raids. Police have registered cases at both Shakespeare Sarani and Electronic Complex police stations under provisions related to theft, criminal trespass and IT offences.

The complaint alleges that ED and CRPF personnel entered both premises without displaying identity cards or informing local authorities, and that requests to examine the court-issued search warrant were allegedly denied.

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Police said the investigation is ongoing and all aspects of the case, including the role of central agency personnel, are being examined.