New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Enforcement Directorate of illegally taking confidential political data belonging to the Trinamool Congress during searches at the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC). In a counter affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, Banerjee alleged that the agency used “pretextual” search operations to seize sensitive campaign-related material rather than conduct legitimate investigations.
According to the affidavit, ED officials visited I-PAC premises only briefly and focused solely on retrieving information related to the ruling party. Banerjee claimed that the Section 17 search warrants invoked were “mechanical and invalid,” lacking proper legal scrutiny and issued without adequate consideration of statutory requirements. She also suggested that the agency’s actions reflected a broader pattern of politically motivated cases surfacing ahead of elections.
The affidavit was filed amid ongoing police investigations following complaints lodged by Banerjee regarding ED raids at both the residence of I-PAC associate Jain on Loudon Street and the firm’s Salt Lake office. Kolkata Police teams collected CCTV recordings, DVR footage, and statements from household staff and security personnel to verify the conduct of the officials during the operations. Another team visited I-PAC offices to record evidence and interview personnel present during the raids.
Complaints filed by Banerjee led to FIRs being registered by Kolkata and Bidhannagar police. The cases invoke provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal intimidation, theft, and trespass, as well as Section 66 of the Information Technology Act, which covers unauthorized access to digital data.
Banerjee alleged that ED personnel conducted the searches at Jain’s residence early in the morning but notified local authorities only hours later via email. She further claimed that when senior police officers arrived, they were obstructed from inspecting the search warrants, with central force personnel allegedly blocking entry and raising batons. Police also sought CCTV footage from the building housing Jain’s residence to examine the actions of the officials during the operation.
The developments underscore heightened tensions between the West Bengal government and central investigative agencies, with political overtones shaping both the legal and administrative response to the raids.
