West Bengal: Mamata Banerjee takes out files from I-PAC office as ED conducts raids at the political consulting firm

While ED conducts raids, Mamata Banerjee retrieves files from the I-PAC office.
The CM at the I-PAC office holding a file. (Source: India Today)

On 8th January (Thursday), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids connected to the political consulting firm I-PAC in Kolkata as part of a money laundering investigation. Meanwhile, visuals depicted several files being taken out of the office and placed inside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s car. She arrived at the scene to protest the action at the office of her party’s political consultancy and was also observed carrying a file as she left the building.

Banerjee expressed, “This is most unfortunate that ED raided the house and office of our IT wing and its head. They are trying to collect all the information. I rang up Pratik, he is in charge of my party.” She further added, “I have collected the party file. ED is trying to get details of all our party activities and plans. They are trying to get the candidate list and our internal information. Is it the duty of ED and Amit Shah? See, I got this, the file and hard drive.”

Banerjee claimed that the raid had political motivations and stated, “The nasty and naughty Home Minister who cannot keep the country safe is behind this. Amit Shah wants to collect our party’s candidate list.” She alleged that in one case names were being removed, while in other, papers were being seized.

The firm’s office at the Godrej Waterside building in Sector V, Salt Lake, and the home of senior I-PAC employee Pratik Jain in central Kolkata were both searched by the ED. Jain is considered to be an important part of Mamata Banerjee’s poll strategy team. TMC leaders started gathering outside the Salt Lake office as word of the raids spread and the Bidhannagar Police Commissioner also arrived at the location. Banerjee also headed towards the Sector V office from another area.

Written by OpIndia Staff
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