The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has levelled serious allegations against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying that she personally intervened in ongoing raids related to a high-profile coal smuggling case, and that she forcibly removed key evidence from two premises in Kolkata. The agency stated that Banerjee, accompanied by state police and administrative officials, seized physical documents and electronic devices during searches at the residence of Pratik Jain, the head of the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC), and the organisation’s office.
The ED today raided 10 locations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), six in West Bengal and four in Delhi, in connection with an alleged coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee. The case stems from a 2020 Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) First Information Report (FIR), accusing Majee of illegally excavating and smuggling coal from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) leasehold areas in West Bengal, with proceeds reportedly laundered through hawala networks.
The agency emphasised that the searches were evidence-based and not politically motivated, clarifying that no political party offices were raided and the action was part of routine anti-money laundering efforts unrelated to upcoming elections.
ED Headquarters Unit is conducting search action at 10 premises (6 in West Bengal and 4 in Delhi) under PMLA in connection with coal smuggling syndicate led by Anup Majee used to steal and illegally excavate coal from ECL leasehold areas of West Bengal. The search action was… pic.twitter.com/ab7PCReiJo
— ED (@dir_ed) January 8, 2026
In an official statement posted on X, the ED said that the raids were proceeding “in a peaceful and professional manner” until Banerjee’s arrival along with a large number of state police officials. The agency said that their officers showed their identity cards to the cops, and briefed about the raids.
ED further said that the Bengal CM obstructed the raids by taking away key documents from two locations being raided. The agency said, “Ms. Banerjee entered the residential premises of Prateek Jain, and took away key evidences including physical documents and electronic devices. The CM’s convoy then proceeded to I-PAC’s office premises, from where Ms. Banerjee, her aides, and the state police personnel forcibly removed physical documents and electronic evidences.”
ED further added that “The above actions have resulted in obstruction in ongoing investigation and proceedings under the PMLA.”
Clarifying that no party office was searched, the search is not linked to any elections, and is part of regular crackdown on money laundering. “The search is conducted strictly in accordance with established legal safeguards,” the ED asserted.
As part of the raids, the ED searched I-PAC’s office located on the 11th floor of a building in Salt Lake, the Loudon Street residence of I-PAC’s head, Pratik Jain, and the office of a trader in the Posta area of Burrabazar, Kolkata. As the central agency conducted searches, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a surprise visit to the residence of Pratik Jain.
She came out of the house with some files in her hands, claiming that ED was attempting to access internal party details. Alleging that ED was collecting TMC’s election strategy details on behalf of BJP, the CM said, “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
Later, the chief minister went to I-PAC’s Salt Lake office, where Trinamool Congress workers gathered in large numbers. Files were collected by the TMC workers from the office also, with the help of police officials.
