Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday sharpened her attack on the BJP-led Centre after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted search operations linked to political consultancy firm I-PAC in Kolkata and subsequently approached the Calcutta High Court alleging interference in its investigation.
Addressing the media, Banerjee accused the central agency of attempting to access confidential Trinamool Congress (TMC) data ahead of the state’s Assembly elections. She alleged that party documents, digital storage devices, and strategic information were taken during the searches, calling the operation a deliberate effort to gather political intelligence.
The Chief Minister questioned the role of the Union Home Ministry, saying investigative agencies were being diverted from their mandate. Directly appealing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, she said the Centre should fight political battles through elections, not enforcement agencies. Banerjee warned that continued pressure tactics would provoke widespread public resistance and electoral consequences for the BJP in Bengal.
She also announced statewide protests by TMC workers, asserting that democratic forces would oppose what she termed political intimidation. According to Banerjee, the timing of the ED action, along with the ongoing voter list revision exercise, reflected a coordinated attempt to weaken her party before polls.
Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate moved the Calcutta High Court, alleging obstruction during its search operations. The agency claimed that electronic devices and documents were removed from the premises while the search was in progress, hampering the investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The matter is scheduled for hearing on Friday.
