CM Mamata alleges ED raids at I-PAC office aimed at stealing TMC strategy

Overview On January 9, 2026 , West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of acting as a political tool of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) . She alleged that the ED was attempting to steal her party's internal strategies. Banerjee defended her actions of visiting premises linked to I-PAC during ED raids, asserting she did nothing wrong. Key Developments Allegations Against BJP Leaders Banerjee made a sharp personal attack, accusing senior BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah , of benefiting from the proceeds of the coal scam. She claimed to possess evidence that she could make public if necessary. Intervention at Raid Site Banerjee stated that her intervention at the raid site was in her capacity as the chairperson of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) , not as the Chief Minister. She emphasized that she did nothing illegal by visiting the I-PAC offices and the residence of its India head, Pratik Jain . ED's Allegations The ED alleged that Banerjee entered Jain’s residence during the raid in a money laundering case linked to alleged coal smuggling and took away key evidence, including physical documents and electronic devices on January 8, 2026 . Banerjee's Defense Banerjee explained that she arrived at the premises around noon, after ED officials had been there since 6 am. She stated her concern was that party documents and strategy details were being taken away, prompting her intervention. Accusations and Counter-Accusations Banerjee alleged that the money trail of the coal scam ran through “traitors,” referring to ex-TMC leaders now with the BJP, including Amit Shah and Suvendu Adhikari . She claimed to possess proof in pen drives, threatening to release it at the appropriate time. Attacks on Central Agencies and Election Commission Banerjee accused central agencies of functioning as political tools of the BJP. She alleged that the BJP had “stolen” the mandate in Maharashtra with the Election Commission's help and was attempting to replicate it in Bengal through the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise. She announced that the TMC's next destination would be the Election Commission in New Delhi to protest against the harassment of voters. Criticism of Election Commission Banerjee mocked Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar as “Vanishing Kumar” and criticized the summoning of elderly voters for verification. She questioned the rationale behind this and rejected allegations of large-scale Rohingya presence in Bengal, noting that if Rohingyas were such a big issue, there would be SIR in Assam, not Bengal. Condemnation of Assault on TMC MPs Banerjee condemned the alleged assault on eight TMC MPs during a protest in Delhi, contrasting it with what she called preferential treatment for BJP leaders. She warned that her party would not be cowed down. Challenge to BJP Banerjee challenged the BJP over the 2026 Assembly polls, predicting their downfall and ending the rally with chants of “Jai Bangla.” UPSC Relevance This news article is relevant to the UPSC syllabus as it touches upon several important aspects of Indian polity and governance. It highlights the relationship between the central government and state governments, the role of central agencies, allegations of corruption, and the functioning of the Election Commission. It also provides insights into the political dynamics of West Bengal. Important Facts The ED searches on January 8, 2026 , were part of a probe into a 2020 case registered by the CBI into an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majhi alias Lala . Anup Majhi is accused of illegally excavating coal from Eastern Coalfields leasehold areas in and around Asansol in Paschim Bardhaman district.

CM Mamata alleges ED raids at I-PAC office aimed at stealing TMC strategy

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CM Mamata alleges ED raids at I-PAC office aimed at stealing TMC strategy

CM Mamata alleges ED raids at I-PAC office aimed at stealing TMC strategy

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Full Article

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