The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday carried out searches at multiple locations linked to political consultancy firm Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) as part of its money laundering investigation into an alleged multi-crore coal pilferage scam.
According to PTI, the raids began around 7 am and covered nearly 10 premises, including I-PAC’s office in Salt Lake, Kolkata, and the residence of its director Pratik Jain on Loudon Street. Four additional locations in New Delhi were also searched. Central paramilitary forces were deployed during the operation.
ED raids target I-PAC offices and director’s residence
Officials said the searches are part of a wider probe into suspected proceeds of crime linked to illegal coal mining and transportation in West Bengal. The ED has been investigating the alleged coal pilferage network for several years, with multiple political and administrative figures already questioned in the case.
While the agency has not officially detailed the role of I-PAC or Pratik Jain in the matter, sources indicated that documents and digital records related to financial transactions are being examined as part of the probe.
Who is Pratik Jain and what is I-PAC’s role?
Pratik Jain is the co-founder and director of I-PAC, one of India’s most prominent political consultancy firms. An alumnus of IIT Bombay, Jain is known for working on election strategy, data-driven campaigning, and governance outreach programmes.
I-PAC has advised several political parties and state governments across the country and is closely associated with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. Jain also serves as the IT cell head of the TMC. Reports suggest that the consultancy works closely with TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and plays a significant role in campaign management and candidate selection during Assembly elections.
Reacting sharply to the raids, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the ED of attempting to seize sensitive party data and internal documents linked to the ruling party’s election preparations.
“They have raided the residence of our IT chief. They were confiscating my party’s documents and hard disks, which has details about our candidates for the assembly polls. I have brought those back,” Banerjee told reporters.
She also launched a strong attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, accusing the Centre of misusing federal agencies.
“He cannot even protect the country. Enforcement agencies and the Home Ministry have failed to safeguard democratic institutions. On one hand, voters’ names are being deleted; on the other, there are attempts to illegally collect sensitive data,” Banerjee said.
According to the chief minister, the searches were aimed at accessing Trinamool Congress’ election strategy, candidate lists for the 2026 Assembly elections, and other confidential organisational records.