By Mamata Banerjee Visits I-PAC Co-Founder Pratik Jain’s Residence, Office During ED Raids in Kolkata
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (January 8, 2026) visited the residence of I-PAC co-founder Pratik Jain and the office of the political consultancy firm in Kolkata while raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were underway.
Addressing the media, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson described the ED raids as “politically motivated” and alleged that the central agency was attempting to seize sensitive party data. Ms. Banerjee claimed that documents related to the Trinamool Congress’s strategy and candidate selection had been taken during the searches.
“They are killing democracy. How can they raid the residence of an I-PAC co-founder? What if we respond by raiding BJP party offices in Bengal?” the Chief Minister said. She later stated that an FIR would be registered against the ED’s actions and announced statewide protests across all blocks of West Bengal.
According to ED sources, a constitutional functionary allegedly removed a file during the raid. The agency clarified that no political party office was targeted and said the searches were linked to an ongoing investigation into the coal pilferage scam.
Ms. Banerjee was accompanied by senior police officials, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, when she entered Pratik Jain’s residence at Loudon Street. Upon exiting, the Chief Minister was seen carrying a file, which she was not holding when she entered the premises.
Following the visit to Jain’s residence, Ms. Banerjee proceeded to the I-PAC office in Salt Lake, where ED searches were also being conducted. She said she would remain at the location until the situation was resolved.
“They have seized mobile phones, laptops and hard disks. After this, they will try to threaten our candidates. But our candidates will not be intimidated,” she said, accusing the BJP of using central agencies to target political opponents.
The Chief Minister also targeted Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that the raids were conducted at his behest. She later urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in the Home Minister.
The Trinamool Congress has been working with Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for several years. The consultancy firm played a key role in shaping the party’s electoral strategy during the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections and subsequent polls.
The episode drew comparisons with February 2019, when Ms. Banerjee had staged a dharna against CBI raids at the residence of then Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar, now the State’s Director General of Police.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari termed the Chief Minister’s visit to Pratik Jain’s residence as “unconstitutional interference” in an ED investigation. He said the central agency should initiate action against Ms. Banerjee.
“The Chief Minister and the Kolkata Police Commissioner visiting the site during an ED raid is unethical, unconstitutional and direct interference in a central agency’s probe,” Mr. Adhikari told reporters.
